TORONTO – Two police officers were taken to hospital with minor injuries after a single-vehicle collision during an arrest attempt in North York near Finch Avenue West and Sentinel Road, the Toronto Police Service said. A 31-year-old man was taken into custody at the scene and charged.
The incident unfolded as officers moved to stop a suspect vehicle in the Finch Avenue West and Sentinel Road area, according to police. The driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot. Officers caught up with the suspect, and a collision occurred during the effort to apprehend him, police said.
What police say happened
- Officers attempted to stop a suspect vehicle near Finch Avenue West and Sentinel Road in North York.
- The driver allegedly left the vehicle and ran from the scene.
- Officers pursued on foot and a single-vehicle collision occurred during the arrest attempt.
- Two officers were transported to hospital with what police described as minor injuries; no civilian injuries were reported.
- A 31-year-old man was arrested at the scene.
Charges filed
Police said the man faces the following counts under the Criminal Code of Canada:
- Flight while pursued by peace officer
- Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
- Using a forged document
- Attempting to obstruct justice
The charges have not been tested in court, and the accused is presumed innocent.
Where the arrest occurred
Finch Avenue West and Sentinel Road are in Toronto’s North York district, a major urban area within the city’s northwest that includes residential neighbourhoods, schools and transit routes. The area sits within a broader corridor that routinely sees a mix of local traffic, transit vehicles and pedestrians.
How such incidents are overseen
In Toronto, on-duty policing falls under municipal authority through the Toronto Police Service and its civilian oversight body, the Toronto Police Services Board. In Ontario, incidents involving police can also be subject to independent civilian oversight depending on circumstances. The province’s Special Investigations Unit is mandated to investigate when there is a civilian death, serious injury, or an allegation of sexual assault involving an officer, as set out in the Special Investigations Unit Act, 2019.
Separate from any potential oversight body review, criminal charges against individuals are prosecuted through the provincial court system, with Crown attorneys determining how cases proceed. Police said the officers’ injuries were minor and that a 31-year-old man was taken into custody and charged in connection with the incident.
