2 people charged in Toronto incident that left police horse and officer injured were out on bail, police say
The driver of a pickup truck who allegedly struck a police horse and rammed several cruisers on Queen Street West on Friday afternoon was out on bail at the time of the incident, Toronto police say.
In a news release on Saturday, police announced they had laid charges against the driver and the passenger, who they said was also out on bail.
The incident began around 3 p.m. when officers were alerted by their Automatic License Plate Reader about a stolen Dodge Ram at Queen Street West and Beverley Street, west of University Avenue.
Police said a member of the Mounted Unit who was patrolling the area saw the Dodge and tried to stop it.
The driver of the pickup tried to flee, hitting a police horse and three cruisers, police allege. One of the collisions resulted in the pickup mounting the sidewalk and crashing into the Little Burgundy store.
Shortly after, an occupant in the vehicle is seen in a video jumping out and running away from officers. The individual was shortly arrested following a brief pursuit. Police said a second occupant was also taken into custody at the scene.
Meanwhile, an officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the incident, and a police horse named York was taken to an emergency animal hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
On Saturday, police identified the suspects as 33-year-old Jonathan Chabot Desrosiers and 30-year-old Cedar Nicholas, with no fixed address.
Both have been charged with theft of a motor vehicle and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
Desrosiers is facing nine additional charges, including injuring certain animals, dangerous operation of a vehicle, common nuisance/endangering lives or safety of the public, two counts of mischief/damage property over $5,000 and four counts of an assault on a peace officer with a weapon.
Police continue to investigate the incident and are asking anyone with information including video to contact them at 416-808-5200 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or www.222tips.com.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Boissonnault out of cabinet to 'focus on clearing the allegations made against him,' Trudeau announces
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced embattled minister Randy Boissonnault is out of cabinet.
Families of Paul Bernardo's victims not allowed to attend parole hearing in person, lawyer says
The families of the victims of Paul Bernardo have been barred from attending the serial killer’s upcoming parole hearing in person, according to the lawyer representing the loved ones of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy.
Missing 4-month-old baby pronounced dead after 'suspicious incident' in midtown Toronto: police
A four-month-old baby is dead after what Toronto police are calling a 'suspicious incident' at a Midtown apartment building on Wednesday afternoon.
'They squandered 10 years of opportunity': Canada Post strike exposes longtime problems, expert says
Canada Post is at ‘death's door’ and won't survive if it doesn't dramatically transform its business, a professor who has studied the Crown corporation is warning as the postal workers' national strike drags on.
Sask. woman who refused to provide breath sample did not break the law, court finds
A Saskatchewan woman who refused to provide a breath sample after being stopped by police in Regina did not break the law – as the officer's request was deemed not lawful given the circumstances.
'Bomb cyclone' batters B.C. coast with hurricane-force winds, downing trees onto roads and vehicles
Massive trees toppled onto roads, power lines and parked cars as hurricane-force winds battered the B.C. coast overnight during an intense “bomb cyclone” weather event.
EV battery manufacturer Northvolt faces major roadblocks
Swedish electric vehicle battery manufacturer Northvolt is fighting for its survival as Canadian taxpayer money and pension fund investments hang in the balance.
Canada closes embassy in Ukraine after U.S. receives information on 'potential significant air attack'
The Embassy of Canada to Ukraine, located in Kyiv, has temporarily suspended in-person services after U.S. officials there warned they'd received information about a 'potential significant air attack,' cautioning citizens to shelter in place if they hear an air alert.
U.S. woman denied parole 30 years after drowning 2 sons by rolling car into South Carolina lake
A parole board decided unanimously Wednesday that Susan Smith should remain in prison 30 years after she killed her sons by rolling her car into a South Carolina lake while they were strapped in their car seats.