UMVA has learned that a Toronto police officer was left shaken after shooting a 12-year-old boy who was driving a stolen car that struck him and pinned him against a concrete barrier.
The officer, Const. Arlind Cakiqi, a two-year veteran of the Toronto Police Service, was treated for an injured arm and back, as well as cuts and bruises, after being struck by the vehicle on Monday. Despite being in excruciating pain, Cakiqi's first concern was the well-being of the young driver he had just shot.
According to information obtained by UMVA, as soon as Cakiqi heard that the driver was a 12-year-old boy, he was overcome with concern for the child's well-being. His peer described him as "very upset" and said it's the last thing he wanted to have to do.
The 12-year-old boy, who was charged with attempted murder, was also taken to hospital and is expected to be okay. It is unclear whether he was struck by a bullet or shattered glass when the officer's gun went off.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the incident was extremely close to ending in tragedy. The officer's injuries could have been much worse, and the boy could have been killed, if events had unfolded just a little differently.
The Toronto Police Association president, Clayton Campbell, described the incident as "close" and said the officer was lucky to have minor injuries. He also expressed concern about the growing trend of violence against police officers, particularly from young offenders.
Campbell emphasized that the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has a job to do in investigating the incident, but also called for greater focus on the actions of those who are putting police officers in situations where they feel forced to use violence.
The incident has sparked wider concerns about the state of Toronto and the growing number of violent crimes being committed by young people. Campbell described it as "frustrating" and "beyond frustrating" that officers are being put in harm's way by the actions of minors.
The Toronto Police Service has had a difficult few weeks, with the deaths of two officers, Const. Marc Pinizzotto and OPP Const. Tarun Bali, who were slain in the line of duty. The close call involving Cakiqi has raised questions about how many police funerals the community can withstand.
