Man charged after officer stabbed in altercation

Accused facing two counts of attempted murder

A 27-year-old man who was shot after he allegedly stabbed a Toronto police officer during an altercation in the west end on Friday is now facing multiple charges, including two counts of attempted murder.

The incident happened at a plaza in the area of College Street and Lansdowne Avenue just after 1:30 p.m. when police were responding to a call about a person in crisis.

Outside of the Tim Hortons in the plaza, “some type of struggle” with two officers ensued where one of them was stabbed, Kristy Denette, spokesperson for the Special Investigations Unit told reporters at the scene at the time.

“The police officers were going to attempt to apprehend the man under the Mental Health Act,” Denette said.

On Monday, a Toronto police spokesperson confirmed that the accused, Gabriel Escairo, is charged with four counts of fail to comply with a release order, weapons dangerous, two counts of assault with a weapon of a peace officer, aggravated assault of a peace officer and two counts of attempted murder.

Denette said police used a Taser on the man during the struggle, at least twice, before he was shot.

Denette confirmed it was the stabbed officer who shot the man who was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The 22-year-old officer, who is said to have been on the job for less than a year, was listed in stable condition after he was injured.

The Special Investigations Unit invoked its mandate to investigate the incident between the man and police.

The officer is the fourth member of the Toronto police force to be injured in the past two weeks.

A Toronto police officer was stabbed outside a Tim Hortons near College Street and Lansdowne Avenue last Friday