Man Jumps Out of Moving U-Haul to Escape Kidnapper: Toronto Police

Toronto Police say a suspect wanted in the stabbing of an off-duty officer led them on a high speed chase after the suspect kidnapped a man at gunpoint. Courtesy of Toronto Police Service

Toronto police say a man jumped from a moving vehicle to escape a kidnapper who was wanted in the stabbing of an off-duty officer.

Police were looking for the suspect, who was one of four individuals wanted in connection with the stabbing of an off-duty officer that happened on Dec. 6 in the McCowan Road and Progress Avenue area, according to a Toronto Police Service (TPS) news release.

Officers were searching the Danforth Road and Wolfe Avenue area for the suspect on Dec. 20, police said.

At that time, the suspect allegedly forced his way into an apartment in the area, without the officers’ knowledge, and forced a man out at gunpoint. He forced the man into a vehicle and drove away.

Around 11:30 a.m., officers saw the suspect driving the vehicle and attempted to stop it, but the suspect refused to stop and “accelerated into two police vehicles,” the release said. Two officers at the scene were hit and one sustained minor injuries.

The suspect hit other vehicles in the area as he attempted to evade the police, TPS said. The alleged kidnap victim was still inside the vehicle.

Police said they followed the vehicle “at a safe distance.”

“When the accused briefly slowed to make a turn at Kennedy Road and Ellesmere Road, the victim jumped from the vehicle without sustaining injuries,” they said in the release.

The suspect is said to have continued to “drive recklessly, at high speeds, running multiple red lights, driving onto sidewalks, into oncoming traffic, and hitting several vehicles and a cyclist.”

Police said multiple units were dispatched to help catch the suspect, including York Regional Police’s helicopter. The helicopter tracked the vehicle into the Durham region and back into Toronto, the release said.

“At one point, the accused put his vehicle into reverse purposely striking an unmarked police vehicle in the Yonge Street and Jordan Street area,” police said. The officer was not injured.

Members of the Emergency Task Force blocked the vehicle and arrested the suspect in the Carlton Street and Church Street area, according to TPS.

Police said they recovered an airsoft pistol in the investigation.

TPS Chief Myron Demkiw posted an image of the incident on X, formerly Twitter, which shows the stolen vehicle was a U-Haul.

“Incredible work by officers from multiple Divisions & the Emergency Task Force with help from ⁦@YRP⁩ to make a dynamic arrest of a suspect in an alleged kidnapping today & in connection with stabbing of an off-duty officer on Dec 6,” the Dec. 20 post said. “An officer was injured but will recover.”

The suspect, Jim Dimce Kaluzovski, 47, is facing numerous charges in connection with the incident, including breaking and entering, pointing a firearm, assault with a weapon, threatening bodily harm, carrying a concealed weapon, kidnapping, dangerous operation of a vehicle causing bodily harm, assaulting a peace officer and causing bodily harm, and eight counts of leaving an accident scene and failing to assist.

Mr. Kaluzovski has also been charged in connection with the Dec. 6 incident, where he has been accused of being one of four individuals who robbed a store and stabbed an off-duty police officer who tried to stop them. The officer was taken to hospital with serious injuries, TPS said.

Police are also searching for Preston Calladine, 48, in connection with the crime.

The other two suspects have not yet been identified.

Anyone with information has been asked to contact police at 416-808-4300, or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-8477 (TIPS).