Peel Regional Police say a man has critical injuries after shots were fired by an officer during a drug activity investigation in Mississauga Tuesday evening, prompting Ontario’s police watchdog to investigate.
A police spokesperson said officers were investigating alleged drug activity by a driver in a vehicle at a housing complex on Winston Churchill Boulevard, just south of Eglinton Avenue West, before 7:45 p.m.
“When the officers went to approach the vehicle, the vehicle drove at the officers,” Const. Sarah Patten told reporters.
“One of the officers fired several shots at the vehicle at which time the vehicle swerved into a garage.”
Police said the vehicle’s driver was taken to hospital by paramedics in life-threatening condition.
The exact injuries sustained by the driver weren’t disclosed as of Monday night.
The spokesperson said Ontario’s police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit, was notified about the incident.
Police later announced the independent agency was going to investigate the conduct of the responding officers.
In an update Wednesday morning, the SIU said officers were attempting to arrest the 28-year-old man, who was a person of interest, when the altercation occurred.
Anyone with information was asked to call police.