A Toronto police officer was killed after being struck by a vehicle in what police are calling an “intentional and deliberate act” in the parking garage at City Hall on Friday morning.
Toronto Police Chief James Ramer said Const. Jeffrey Northrup was killed while conducting an investigation with his police partner.
A suspect has been arrested, Ramer said, and Toronto police’s homicide unit has taken over the investigation.
The incident reportedly happened some time after midnight in the parkade, located near Bay and Queen Streets.
Police say Northup and his partner were responding to a priority call when they were struck by the vehicle.
“We believe this was an intentional and deliberate act,” Ramer told reporters on the scene Friday morning.
Northrup was transported with no vital signs to St. Michael’s Hospital, where he later died.
Northup was a police officer for 31 years and a member of 52 Division since 2008.
Northrup’s partner was transported to the same hospital, where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
A collision reconstruction unit is currently at the scene.
’15 cop cars at least’
Witnesses on scene say there was heavy police presence and that fire crews and paramedics were also on scene.
“All of the sudden all the emergency vehicles started showing up and we could smell something burning,” said Akashdeep Gill.
“There was a huge police presence around — 15 cop cars at least.”
A second witness, Asad Bari, also said he smelled fire and saw that the parking gate had been broken.
“Where the exit is, we saw that the exit barrier was broken down,” he said.
More to come.
More Stories
Fair share: the right office solution can take finding the right partner
Ontario faces crew shortages, aircraft issues in fight against wildfires | Globalnews.ca
Refugee attends open house at Downtown Eastside affordable housing facility – BC | Globalnews.ca