A man attempting to steal a police officer’s gun inside Humber River Hospital has been captured on surveillance video.
The incident happened in a corridor in the emergency ward just before 11 a.m. on Sunday on Jan. 8.
The video shows a man sneaking up behind the officer and attempting to grab the gun from his holster.
The officer and another officer then proceeded to take down the man.
Toronto police Insp. Colin Greenaway told CTV News Toronto that the officers involved in the incident did not use excessive force even though their lives were in danger.
“You can see the officers have no idea that the accused is going to come up and try to take the firearm off him,” Greenaway said, describing of the video.
A suspect, identified as 30-year-old Trevor Boucher, is now facing several charges, including attempting to disarm a police officer and assault with intent to resist arrest.
He had checked himself in for a medical condition prior to the attack.
Boucher currently remains in hospital for examination under the Mental Health Act.
Greenaway said Boucher has had previous interactions with Toronto police.
“Ontario Review Board, which covers the Mental Health Act of Ontario, had put conditions on Boucher previously and one of those conditions was to keep the peace and be of good behaviour,” Greenaway said. “This was obviously breached with this day in question.”