Man in custody after series of dog attacks in Etobicoke, Uber carjacked

Toronto police say a man is in custody and a dog has been handed over to animal services after a number of attacks in Etobicoke Saturday morning.

Constable David Hopkinson tells CityNews the series of events, they believe to be related, began when a man ordered an Uber.

Police say around 2:45 a.m., when the Uber arrived in the area of Third Street and Lake Shore Boulevard West, the man carjacked the vehicle, which is described as a red import car, by assaulting the driver and setting a dog on the driver.

“That driver is now in hospital, the injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, but they are more on the serious side,” Hopkinson says.

Hopkinson says the man then got away in the Uber vehicle.

Next, Hopkinson says the man then drove to Norris Crescent Parkette, near the Etobicoke Yacht Club.

“A man and a woman were riding through the park and stopped to take a picture,” he says, “the guy sets his dog to attack the woman, he steals her bike.”

Further down in the park, Hopkinson says another person was attacked by the dog, then the pair made their way to the yacht club.

Hopkinson says a man on a dingy-like boat attached to another boat was woken up when it appeared there was a man with a dog stealing the boat.

This person was not attacked, however, Hopkinson says the man with the dog got away.

“We believe that there are four people that have been attacked by this man and this dog combination,” Hopkinson says, “there have been some fairly serious injuries involved.”

Police say the investigation is ongoing.