Three men are under arrest and police are searching for a possible fourth suspect after both a Peel Regional Police officer and a civilian were shot in Brampton Friday night.

According to police, an officer responded to a 911 call at an address on Stokes Rd., near Chinguacousy Rd. and Queen St., around 10:20 p.m. on Friday.

Upon arrival, the officer made contact with a suspect “who immediately opened fire on police” and fired numerous bullets into the cruiser, police said.

Peel police spokesman Const. Thomas Ruttan said the officer, who did not have an opportunity to return fire, was hit by a single shot. He was able to drive away from the scene but struck a stop sign while accelerating, ripping the back bumper off of his cruiser.

He was taken to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Police found a civilian on scene with gunshot wounds, who they say was shot before the officer arrived. The civilian was rushed to a trauma centre in critical condition.

On Saturday morning, Ruttan said the officer is “in good shape” and that the civilian is in stable condition.

A resident of Stokes Rd. who did not want to be named said she heard “so many (shots) . . . maybe about 20” ring out around 10:45 p.m. Friday. When she looked out her window, she saw a man limping down the street.

All of Stokes Rd. was blocked off Saturday morning. As of Saturday afternoon, caution tape and two police cars remained at the end the street.

“It looks like I don’t have to decorate for Halloween. All that (police) tape, it’s all over the street,” the resident said.

There was a heavy police presence in the neighbourhood following the shooting as police searched for the suspects with the aid of a York police helicopter.

“I heard the chopper, I heard one big bang and then I saw 20 police cars,” said Jindi Sembi, another resident of the area who was home at the time of the shooting. He added that there are police on the street often to deal with drug crime.

“There are a lot of fights here but I’ve never heard anybody get shot at,” he said.

“This neighbourhood is not that great. That’s why a lot of people don’t let their kids go in certain areas,” said Chantal Pisani, who has lived on the street for six years.

“There’s police in the street at least once a week. They do checkups. They just drive by,” she said.

Two suspects were arrested overnight and a third on Saturday morning.

Ruttan told media Saturday afternoon that one suspect was arrested after he was found hiding in a car near the scene and that a Peel bus was involved in the arrest of another. Police believe there may be a fourth suspect, who may be armed, based on eyewitness accounts, Ruttan said.

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Anyone with information is asked to contact police at (905) 453-2121, ext. 2233. Anonymous information may also be submitted to Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).