Three suspects, including a youth, are facing charges after an early-morning police pursuit in Scarborough that ended with a collision involving a stolen vehicle.
Toronto police say officers noticed suspicious activity near Morningside Avenue and Halfway Avenue around 1:43 a.m. Tuesday. The group was allegedly seen removing licence plates from one vehicle and damaging its sunroof, then transferring the plates to another car before driving off.
When officers attempted to intervene, police allege the driver deliberately crashed into a police cruiser. One of the suspects tried to escape on foot but was quickly caught, and all three were taken into custody without further incident.
Investigators later confirmed the vehicle involved had previously been reported stolen. Police also say a search uncovered equipment commonly used to reprogram car keys, including a master key device.
Those charged include 19-year-old Alaa Khaled and 18-year-old Matin Ahmad, both from Toronto, along with a 16-year-old whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The trio face several charges related to theft, possession of stolen property, and illegal automobile key activity, with Khaled additionally accused of dangerous driving.