Police officer stabbed, suspect shot in Toronto's west side

A police officer who was stabbed and a suspect who was shot on the city's west side Friday afternoon are in stable condition, according to Toronto police.

Police said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the incident happened around 1:30 a.m. near College Street and Lansdowne Avenue.

Toronto Police Deputy Chief Lauren Pogue said officers responded to the scene at 1:00 p.m. in search of a man in critical condition.

When they arrived, officers attempted to arrest the man and one officer was stabbed. The officer then fired their firearms.

Ontario's police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit, has invoked its mandate to conduct investigations, such as when someone is seriously injured or killed when police officers are involved.

“Our officers are surrounded by colleagues and have the full support of the entire team and members of the Toronto Police Service,” Pogue said.

The Toronto Police Association said in a statement that the officer was conscious and breathing and was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. “The suspect was shot during the conflict and taken to the hospital,” the report said.

Speaking to the media outside St. Michael's Hospital, TPA President John Reid said he had spoken with the injured officer and that the officer was in good spirits.

Reed also said he could not comment specifically on the incident because the SIU was referring to its mandate, but he expressed concern after recent incidents of officer-involved violence.

“I am fed up with what is happening in the city. This is the third officer injured in three days… It has to stop.”

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow wished the injured officer a speedy recovery in a post on X, noting that three officers have been injured on the job this week.

“One was attacked while walking on the street, the other was involved in a carjacking and was injured, and now this is a disturbing incident,” Chow wrote. “Violence is never acceptable.”