2 Toronto officers injured in knife attack at Etobicoke rooming house
Posted February 2, 2021 12:34 pm.
Last Updated February 2, 2021 10:33 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Two Toronto police officers searching for a missing person were attacked by a knife-wielding man at an Etobicoke rooming house on Tuesday afternoon.
One of the officers suffered significant slash wounds. The other officer’s injuries are more minor in nature.
Both were rushed to hospital with non life-threatening injuries. They have since been released and are recovering at home.
Toronto police Chief James Ramer said police were first called to the rooming house in the Royal York Boulevard and Lawrence Avenue West area on Monday night to search for missing man, Nathaniel Brettell, 56.
Officers didn’t find Brettell, but spotted blood during their probe and returned on Tuesday morning to conduct a more thorough search.
Chief Ramer said officers arrived at around 9:45 a.m. Tuesday.
At around 11:15 a.m. officers were in the common area of the rooming house when a man suddenly emerged from one of the rooms with a knife. Ramer said the man immediately began attacking the officers.
He was tasered and arrested on scene.
The man, identified as Ahmed Al Farkh, 33, of Toronto, is facing several charges including two counts of attempt murder, two counts of aggravated assault of a police officer and four counts of assault with a weapon
Ramer said the status of Brettell is still unknown and police are trying to piece together what’s transpired.
“It is concerning,” he said. “We are actively investigating this trying to determine what has happened here.”
Brettell (pictured below) was last seen on Thursday, January, 21, 2021, in the Westona Street and Dixon Road area. He’s described as five foot eight, with a thin build, receding grey hair and a white beard.
Police are concerned for his safety.
