Videos shows suspected car thief crashing vehicle into police officer

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Police are searching for a man who struck an officer with a vehicle while fleeing an auto theft investigation in Toronto.

On April 30, at about 7:30 a.m., members of the York Regional Police located two stolen vehicles in the Thorncliffe Park area of East York.

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With the assistance of a canine unit, police moved in to arrest two suspects and one man, 18, was caught after a short foot pursuit. A second man jumped into a suspected stolen vehicle.

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The suspect hit a police vehicle and then drove directly toward an officer, who was struck head-on, before crashing into a nearby building. The suspect fled the scene and police say he remains at large.

The incident was caught on video and shows the officer who was struck tumbling over the hood and windshield of an SUV before crashing to the pavement.

The officer was transported to a nearby hospital but released shortly afterward with minor injuries.

Police are asking anyone with any information regarding the suspect’s identity to come forward.

He is described as approximately 5’8” with a thin build, black hair and brown complexion.

The man who was caught has been charged with two charges each of theft of a motor vehicle, trafficking property obtained by crime, fail to comply with undertaking, possession of an automobile master key and three counts of possession of property obtained by crime.

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In January new conference focused on combating auto theft, York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween warned that the surge in stolen vehicles was having a direct affect on public and officer safety.

“Some of these bandits are driving intentionally at our officers who are trying to make the arrest,” he said. “They’re young people. They’re out there brandishing firearms, doing home invasions, and it’s just completely unacceptable to any of us.”

Earlier this year, Toronto police also warned that they were “concerned about an escalation in violence” in home invasions and auto thefts, which they say rose 400 per cent in 2023.

“All sorts of weapons and firearms are being used to steal vehicles, and that includes during home invasions,” TPS said in a news release in March.

Police later recommended that residents leave their “fobs at your front door,” which prompted swift backlash.

“They’re breaking into your home to steal your car. They don’t want anything else,” Const. Marco Ricciardi said at a town-hall meeting in Etobicoke.

“A lot of them that we’re arresting have guns on them. And they’re not toy guns; they’re real guns. They’re loaded.”

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Police later backtracked on that statement and offered “better tips” to prevent auto theft, including parking in a garage if possible, keeping the driveway well lit, and installing security measures in and around your home such as cameras, motion detectors, security film on glass windows and multi-point door locks.

Last month, another Toronto police officer suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries while making an arrest during an alleged car theft.

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