Regional News
November 22, 2008 08:57 PM
Joe Fantauzzi
A York Regional Police detective believed he had confronted a dangerous, possibly armed, man when he pulled his gun in Toronto last spring, the province’s Special Investigations Unit has concluded.
That conclusion was released as part of a statement issued Friday by the civilian agency, which investigates cases of serious injuries — including allegations of sexual assault — and deaths involving the police, in the shooting of Justin Thompson, 22, during an arrest attempt by York police in Scarborough.
May 20 at about 11 a.m., York police tried to arrest Mr. Thompson for breaching his release conditions, the SIU reported.
The officers had Mr. Thompson under surveillance and followed him from Ajax to the intersection of West Hill Drive and Kingston Road in Scarborough.
At that point, the officers spotted a cyclist approach the driver’s side of Mr. Thompson’s car and start speaking to him, the SIU stated.
A little while later, three plainclothes York officers in unmarked cars tried to box in Mr. Thompson’s car. The bicyclist ran off, was chased on foot by the officers and arrested a short distance away, the SIU reported.
At that point, the detective at the centre of the SIU probe was left alone with Mr. Thompson.
“The officer legitimately believed that he was dealing with someone who was known to be violent and potentially armed. The officer was apprised of such in the course of a briefing earlier in the day,” James Cornish, the outgoing SIU director, said in a statement.
This case was Mr. Cornish’s final decision, according to SIU spokesperson John Yoannou.
Mr. Thompson did not stop and tried to escape by manoeuvring his vehicle back and forth to make space.
The officer got out of his vehicle, went around it and into the gap between his and another officer’s vehicle.
The SIU probe determined the detective repeatedly ordered Mr. Thompson to stop as he moved toward the vehicle, but Mr. Thompson ignored him.
On the second and final reverse, Mr. Thompson struck another unmarked police car behind him then drove forward, which is when the officer fired his weapon.
Mr. Thompson struck the rear of the detective’s car before turning left and driving east along Kingston Road, the SIU said.
After the incident, Mr. Thompson went to the Rouge Valley Centenary Hospital and was given medical care for a non-life-threatening chest wound.
He was later released to York Regional Police.
“I am satisfied that the subject officer was in the lawful discharge of his duties in attempting to affect the man’s arrest at the time of the shooting,” Mr. Cornish said.
Mr. Thompson is charged with attempted murder, assault with a weapon, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle — evade police, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and two counts of failing to comply with release conditions.
He remains before the Newmarket courts.