Toronto police run over suspect wielding two knives in chaotic arrest video

A disturbing video circulating online shows a Toronto police arrest that went horribly wrong, and ended with an officer accidentally running over a person with their police SUV.

The arrest, which occurred on Nov. 1 at Jane Park Plaza near Jane Street and Alliance Avenue, was captured by a bystander, and a video of the incident shows a chaotic encounter between police officers and a person holding two knives, who was reported to be damaging vehicles in the parking lot.

In the video, the person can be seen walking around and stabbing at police car tires, as officers move in to corner the assailant. As the knife-wielding person begins to walk away, one officer deploys a taser, and a knife can be heard hitting the ground as police move in to apprehend the incapacitated suspect.

Moments later, an officer driving the SUV steps out to assist, but fails to put the vehicle in park. The SUV then begins rolling forward and runs over the suspect and one of the officers.

The officer then rushes back to stop the vehicle as police attempt to hold it back, but instead of reversing, the SUV suddenly accelerates forward, driving over the suspect again. Screaming can be heard as officers yell at their colleague to move the car off the person. In the aftermath, one officer can be seen visibly limping.

In a statement to blogTO, Toronto Police confirmed that they are aware of the incident and the videos circulating online.

"Officers were dispatched following reports of a person armed with knives who was actively damaging vehicles. To safely disarm the individual, a conducted energy weapon (CEW) was deployed. As officers moved to take the suspect into custody, another officer arrived on scene to assist," police said.

"During this response, the officer's vehicle inadvertently rolled forward into both the suspect and one of the arresting officers. Paramedics attended the scene and assessed both individuals. Neither sustained serious injuries from the vehicle contact and both were medically cleared. The suspect was transported to hospital for further assessment related to the CEW deployment, as per our procedures."

Although police have emphasized that no one was seriously injured in the incident, the footage has sparked outrage online and raised questions about police training.

Cyclist rights advocate and lawyer David Shellnutt described the officer's actions as incredibly dangerous.

"Positioning the vehicle so close to the arrest and negligently not putting it in park or turning it off was incredibly dangerous and poorly executed police work. Then again twice ramming it over the person on the ground instead of reversing it demonstrate gross negligence, and the City of Toronto and Toronto police would most assuredly be exposed to liability here," Shellnutt said.

"We have compassion for officers dealing with dangerous and volatile situations, but this appears to have been a very poorly executed arrest that begs the question again if officers are trained to deal with people in obvious distress. Perhaps a mental health liaison could have defused the incident far more successfully."

Toronto police say they are actively reviewing the circumstances and are "grateful there were no serious injuries during this dynamic incident."