SIU investigating after police vehicle allegedly "struck" knife wielding suspect (VIDEO)
The province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) invoked its mandate after a Toronto police cruiser was caught on video allegedly running over a suspect during a pursuit downtown on Sunday evening.
Toronto police say they responded to reports of a knife point robbery in the area of Bathurst Street and King Street West at 6:09 pm.
The officers located the 28-year old man on the scene wielding a knife who was subsequently arrested and “the man and an officer were taken to hospital with injuries.”
The SIU was notified, invoking their mandate by “investigating the circumstances surrounding the serious injury sustained by a 28-year-old man yesterday in the course of his arrest by police officers with the Toronto Police Service,” their statement said.
According to the SIU, the man fled on foot southbound on Bathurst Street, and the officers followed.
At Bathurst Street and Front Street, officers deployed “conducted energy weapons” at the man, but the man continued to run.
And soon after, a police cruiser “struck” the man.
He was then taken into custody and transported to hospital where he was diagnosed with a “serious injury.”
“At this time, one investigator, two forensic investigators and one collision reconstructionist have been assigned to the case,” SIU said.
Various residents in the area caught footage of the incident, which show the suspect being hit by a police car, as a group of officers chase after the vehicle.
The suspect can also be seen wielding the knife as the police officers try and encircle him with another police car bumping into him before the video ends.
Toronto Police effectively social distancing at least 2m from a man with a big knife. pic.twitter.com/NtKeiOPoqm
— Ashley: Fujoshi Princess (@AshleyUncia) April 13, 2020
According to police, the area of Bathurst Street and King Street West is now closed due to the ongoing investigation.
The SIU is an “arm’s length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury, or allegations of sexual assault.”
The SIU is urging anyone who may have information about this investigation to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529. The Unit is also urging anyone who may have any video evidence related to this incident to upload that video through the SIU website.
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