A Toronto police officer suffered minor injuries when his cruiser was involved in a single-vehicle crash early Monday morning.
The officer was looking for suspects in a series of break-ins when his cruiser crashed into a pole at Eglinton Avenue West and Islington Avenue at about midnight.
A police spokesman said the eastbound car’s steering rod broke as the officer was turning into Islington Avenue’s southbound lanes, sending the car out of control.
The car sustained significant damage to its front end when it took out a traffic signal standard at about 2:30 a.m.
Despite his injuries, the officer declined an ambulance.
B&E suspects facing charges
Meanwhile, four break-and-enter suspects are facing charges after three break-ins and one attempted break-in.
After a witness tipped off police, two suspects were arrested when police surrounded a home that was broken into and found them hiding in a bedroom, said Det. Const. Derek Davey.
Two suspects fled in a car that was waiting outside the home, but they were arrested after a short pursuit, Davey told CP24.
Investigators believe the group - two men and two women aged 20 to 25 - is responsible for break-ins between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.
The suspects were allegedly in possession of stolen property, cash and knives when they were arrested, said police spokesman Const. Tony Vella.
Police said the suspects are charged with three counts of break and enter, and single counts of attempted break and enter, possession of burglary tools, and possession of property obtained by crime.
One suspect is facing additional charges of dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and failing to comply with a recognizance.
Police said the suspects will likely face more charges for previous burglaries in the city's west end.
With files from CP24's Katie Simpson
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