Peel police have charged a 33-year-old man after a police officer was attacked while on patrol at Pearson International Airport early Wednesday morning.
The 30-year veteran officer was at the arrivals level inside Terminal 1 at about 2 a.m. when a man ran up behind him and tried to take his service pistol from its holster, police said.
The officer prevented the man from grabbing the weapon and notified other officers. After a brief struggle, the suspect was arrested. The officer suffered minor injuries.
Police say they are stumped as to the motive for the attack.
"That's what we'd like an answer for," Const. Wayne Patterson told CTV.ca.
Patterson said there wasn't any immediate indication that the suspect had a mental health condition, but said he arrived to Canada on May 28 and didn't have a plane ticket when he was arrested.
The man's citizenship is still under investigation, Patterson said.
Jamal David Williams has been charged with attempting to disarm a police officer and assaulting a police officer. He was scheduled to appear in a Brampton court on Wednesday.
Police are asking for witnesses or anyone who knows the accused to contact them at 905-453-2121 ext. 3133.
