Toronto cops hurt in dust-up over parking ticket

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Two officers suffered injuries in an altercation triggered by a parking ticket, according to Toronto Police.

The assault on the officers happened around noon on Vaughan Rd., just west of Oakwood ave., said acting duty-inspector Jeff Bassingthwaite.

“They (the officers) were called to assist a parking enforcement officer who received some verbal abuse from a citizen. And when the officers arrived, the man decided to get violent,” alleged Bassingthwaite.

The officers suffered minor injuries and one was taken to hospital. Police said the man allegedly involved also sustained minor injuries.

At the scene, a black four-door Honda — parked in a bike lane — was surrounded by police cars and yellow tape with a ticket on the windshield.

Bassingthwaite said when people receive tickets, they have options to dispute them.

“Be calm, be collected. View the options that are on the back of the ticket,“ said Bassingthwaite. “Be that a Highway Traffic Act offence or a parking offence notice.”

There was no immediate word on any charges being laid.

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw recently released statistics that showed as of July 18, 27 parking enforcement officers have been assaulted while on duty this year.

“In most of these cases, the member was assaulted while they served a parking ticket,” said Demkiw.

In 2023, 46 were assaulted — 15 more than the previous year.

Demkiw called it a “disturbing” rise, adding it was “unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

The latest incident happened on the heels of an off-duty officer being shot in the leg in the King-Bathurst Sts. area  Saturday night around 11:30 p.m.

Toronto Det.-Sgt. Brandon Price said the job of being a police officer in Toronto is one where there can be  the “highest safety concerns.”

“And we have to conduct ourselves as safely as possible.”

Javell Jackson, 30, faces a slew of charges, including attempted murder.

— with files by Jane Stevenson