Toronto police shoot suspect with ‘sock round;’ SIU investigating

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating after a Toronto police officer deployed a non-lethal “sock round” at a 58-year-old man who allegedly advanced toward officers with a knife.

The suspect reportedly turned toward police following a confrontation with another man at a convenience store near Sherbourne and Dundas streets around 7:45 p.m. Wednesday.

In a tweet, Toronto police said the man had attacked another man and chased him with a knife.

Const. David Hopkinson said callers alerted police to the incident.

A police Public Safety Response Team was in the area and intervened. Hopkinson said the officers tried to deescalate the situation.

“They ordered the man to drop the weapon,” he said. “He turned and advanced on officers.”

The officer then fired multiple times from a “less lethal” shotgun.

The suspect, who was arrested, was struck and treated in hospital for a hand injury, the SIU said.

The SIU invoked its mandate shortly after the incident and is now conducting an investigation.

A sock round is a small, beanbag-like projectile that is aimed at the lower abdomen, legs and lower arms and reduces the potential for serious injury or death.

The nylon sack full of granular material inflicts pain, but does not penetrate the body.

The Public Safety Response Team is trained in non-lethal takedown methods and is one of the few police units that carry sock guns.

The SIU is an arm’s length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault. 

With files from the Canadian Press