Videos circulating on social media Saturday morning shows chaos unfold Downtown Toronto as cops pursue suspects who allegedly stole a pickup truck.
“This is not a movie being filmed Friday on Queen St. This was a real life takedown of suspects in a stolen vehicle investigation — amazing work by @TorontoPolice officers who boxed in the alleged bandits. But two people were hurt including a copper and a police horse,” wrote Toronto Sun’s Joe Warmington who shared a 40-second video on X Saturday.
The police chase ensued Friday, reportedly after 3 p.m. as per the details on Toronto Police Services X account. The police received an alert from an automatic licence plate reader identifying an allegedly stolen vehicle, Duty Inspector Scott Shutt told reporters at the scene on Friday evening, CBC reports.
The mounted police who were in the area approached the alleged stolen vehicle, a Dodge Ram, as the suspect tried to drive off.
“The stolen vehicle then reversed up onto the curb and fled westbound, where it collided with a second scout car and a third scout car then struck the vehicle, causing it to go up onto the curb,” Shutt is reported as saying according to Global News. As seen in the video, the vehicle then crashed into Little Burgundy, a retail store on Queen Street West.
After a brief chase the suspects were arrested. “It is a dangerous situation,” Shutt said as reported by Global News. “There was no pursuit, the vehicle was stopped, officers approached it and it then drove towards officers and it was stopped basically in the same area.”
In social media post on Friday, Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw described the arrest as “dynamic.” “Our officers do incredible but often dangerous work keeping our city safe. Thank you to all of our members for what you do everyday,” he wrote.
The driver and the officer were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The police horse was taken to a veterinary hospital.
On videos shared by other X users, people were quick to commend the “great work” by the cops, with MP Marco Mendicino wishing “the officer a speedy recovery.” The injured police horse named York also elicited concern and worry by some. “We hope for a good recovery for all and that York will be ok. The beloved Police Horses are so much appreciated and serve so well. Extra carrots,” tweeted @smilingflower.
Scott reported no civilians were injured.
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