A video capturing a Toronto police vehicle accidentally running over a female suspect and an officer during an arrest over the weekend has gone viral on social media.
Toronto police acknowledged the video on Monday and stated they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the arrest. The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday when police responded to a report of a 23-year-old woman wielding knives and damaging vehicles in a plaza parking lot near Jane Street and Alliance Avenue, south of Eglinton Avenue W.
The woman was subsequently arrested and charged with one count of weapons dangerous and four counts of mischief. She appeared in court the following day.
In the footage shared by 6ixBuzzTV, the suspect is seen being hit with a conducted energy weapon, falling to the ground, and then being struck by a police vehicle that rolled forward during the arrest. Despite the chaotic scene, neither the suspect nor the officer sustained serious injuries, according to authorities.
Steven Summerville, a retired staff sergeant from the Toronto police, explained that the officer likely forgot to put the vehicle in park due to the intensity of the situation, attributing it to carelessness rather than intent. He emphasized that mistakes can happen in high-pressure moments and expressed confidence that the officer would not repeat such an error.
Toronto Police spokesperson Stephanie Sayer confirmed that a conducted energy weapon was deployed to subdue the suspect safely. She clarified that the officer’s vehicle unintentionally moved forward, causing the incident with both the suspect and the arresting officer. Both individuals were examined by paramedics and cleared medically.
While the video has circulated widely online, another angle of the incident, showing the suspect wielding knives and damaging police vehicles before being run over, has also surfaced. Toronto Paramedic Services reported taking one individual to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and assessing another person on-site who did not require hospitalization.
The Special Investigations Unit of Ontario was not informed of the incident as the suspect did not sustain significant injuries. The SIU typically investigates incidents involving police that result in serious harm, death, allegations of sexual assault, or the discharge of a firearm at a person.
The Toronto Police Association acknowledged the online videos of the incident, noting that no serious injuries were reported among its members and that the woman was taken to the hospital following the Taser deployment during the arrest.