Toronto police accuse 2 people of chasing a police horse, an officer was injured

Toronto police say the driver of a pickup truck that allegedly hit a police horse and rammed several trucks on Queen Street West on Friday afternoon was out on bail at the time of the incident.

In Saturday’s press releasepolice announced they had charged the driver and passenger, who they said were also out on bail.

The incident occurred around 3 p.m., when an automatic license plate reader alerted officers to a stolen Dodge Ram at Queen Street West and Beverley Street, west of University Avenue.

Police said a member of the Mounted Unit who was patrolling the area spotted Dodge and tried to stop it.

According to police, the driver of the pickup truck tried to flee, hitting a police horse and three police cars. As a result of one of the collisions, the pickup truck drove onto the sidewalk and hit the Little Burgundy store.

Shortly afterwards, the video shows the vehicle’s passenger jumping out and running away from the officers. After a short chase, the man was soon arrested. Police said a second resident was also arrested at the scene.

Meanwhile, an officer suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the incident, and a police horse with non-life-threatening injuries was taken to an animal hospital.

On Saturday, police identified the suspects as 33-year-old Jonathan Chabot Desrosiers and 30-year-old Cedar Nicholas, who had no permanent address.

Both were charged with theft of a motor vehicle and possession of property obtained by crime worth more than $5,000.

Desrosiers faces nine additional charges, including injury to certain animals, dangerous operation of a vehicle, disorderly conduct/endangering life or public safety, two counts of criminal damage/destruction of property valued at more than $5,000 and four counts of assaulting a peace officer with a deadly weapon.

Police continue to investigate the incident and are asking anyone with information, including video footage, to call 416-808-5200 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or www.222tips.com.