A pickup truck driver accused of hitting a police horse and crashing into multiple police cruisers on a busy Toronto street was out on bail at the time of the incident, police say.
The incident happened at approximately 3 p.m. when police were notified about a stolen Dodge Ram at Queen Street West and Beverley Street.
“A police mounted unit attempted to stop the stolen vehicle,” police said. “The vehicle struck a police horse and rammed several police vehicles while trying to escape. The stolen vehicle then mounted the sidewalk and struck the front window of a business.”
One suspect was arrested at the scene, while a second fled on foot and was pursued by officers. They arrested the suspect a short distance from the crash scene.
The officer who was struck by the vehicle was taken to hospital, while the police horse, named York, went to an emergency animal hospital. Both had non-life-threatening injuries.
Jonathan Chabot Desrosiers, 33, and 30-year-old Cedar Nicholas, both of no fixed address, were charged with theft of a motor vehicle and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
Desrosiers was also charged with injuring certain animals, two counts of mischief and damage to property over $5,000, four counts of assaulting a peace officer with a weapon, dangerous operation of a vehicle, and common nuisance/endangering lives or safety of the public.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or has video of the incident to contact investigators.
