Alleged stolen truck rams police cruiser, injures cop and horse

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Two people are in custody after a police officer and a Mounted Unit horse were injured in Toronto’s downtown core while cops investigated a stolen vehicle.

Toronto Police said on social media that officers received a video ALPR (Automatic Licence Plate Recognition) alert that the vehicle, a truck, was allegedly stolen, in the Queen St. W. and University Ave. area at around 3:15 p.m.

Following a short pursuit, cops allege the driver of the vehicle rammed a police cruiser and injured an officer.

“The suspect drove towards the mounted officers, striking one of the horses and continued forward, striking head-on with a scout car,” Insp. Scott Shutt said at the scene of the incident.

“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 said the suspect driver and a passenger in the vehicle then fled the area, but were arrested following a short foot chase. The suspect was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The injured officer was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries as well. The injured horse was taken to a veterinary hospital for assessment.

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Images shared to social media show a dark blue pickup truck crashed into a storefront along Queen St. W.

Police Chief Myron Demkiw issued a statement on social media in response to the incident.

“Thankful tonight that an injured officer will recover and no members of the public were hurt during the dynamic arrest of two people in a stolen vehicle,” he wrote.

“The driver of the car allegedly drove into multiple police cars and also made contact with one of our three responding horses, York, who has been taken to the vet as a precaution. Our officers do incredible but often dangerous work keeping our city safe. Thank you to all of our members for what you do everyday.”

Queen St. W. is closed from Peter St. to John St. as police continue to investigate the incident.