An 18-year-old Toronto man was charged with attempted murder on Thursday after police say he struck an officer with his car while trying to flee the scene of a traffic stop.
Toronto police said the incident occurred when officers stopped the man on Pharmacy Avenue near Victoria Park Avenue shortly after midnight.
Const. Tony Vella said officers from 54 Division ran the licence plate and learned it did not match the vehicle.
"As they were about to approach the vehicle to speak to the driver, they noticed his door suddenly open," Vella told CTV Toronto. "At that point it was unclear what the intention of the driver was."
Police say the man reversed his car at a high speed and struck one of the approaching officers, knocking him to the ground and dragging him under the open car door for about 75 metres.
Police say the suspect then accelerated until he flipped the car onto its side; he attempted to flee the scene but was arrested a short distance away.
The officer was taken to hospital with bruises and a sprained ankle, and was released a short time later.
Stephan Cumming, 18, of Toronto, has been charged with attempted murder, dangerous operation of a vehicle causing bodily harm, failure to stop for police and failure to comply with probation.
With files from CTV Toronto's Tamara Cherry
