Police Officer Shot In City’s West End
Posted January 24, 2009 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It was bad week for gun violence in Toronto, and Saturday night was no exception.
A police officer from 11 Division was hit by pellets from a shotgun near Bloor St. W. and Lansdowne around 8pm.
The officer had been chasing a suspect on foot after an attempted armed robbery at a Beer Store at Dupont and Symington.
“There was a confrontation between the police and the suspect as the officers tried to make an arrest. The officer did receive a gunshot wound to the head,” revealed Supt. Glenn Decaire.
He was transported to St. Michael’s Hospital, but was released a few hours later.
The man who fired at the policeman is in custody. Another suspect, possibly armed with a handgun, fled in a vehicle.
Symington was closed from Bloor to Dupont and the area completely contained as the Emergency Task Force, canine unit and a York division helicopter were all brought in to help in the search.
The search was being scaled down, and although unconfirmed at this point, there was word the man had been arrested at 33 Gabian Way.
Police do not believe there is any risk to area residents, but were asking them to stay in their homes until further notice.
“I’ve stationed officers about every 100 feet away in the entire area. So there’s enough police coverage here [so we can] make sure everybody’s safe,” Supt. Decaire assured locals.
But, neighbour Patricia Carreiro expressed a common fear.
I just live about six houses down the street…and I’m kind of scared to go home.”
In an unrelated incident, a police cruiser, securing one end of the perimeter a few blocks north at the railway tracks, was hit by a VIA train. No one was injured in the crash.
