The province’s Special Investigations Unit is probing the circumstances under which a Toronto police officer shot a man early Sunday near Queen St. W. and Spadina Ave.

The incident began when police spotted a stolen vehicle in the area of Vanauley St. and Queen St. W. around 1:30 a.m., according to a statement released Sunday by the SIU.

The SIU said the vehicle “became involved in a collision” with a police cruiser after it turned north onto Vanauley St. and then east into a nearby laneway.

A police officer shot repeatedly at the vehicle’s driver, striking him once, the SIU said.

The 43-year-old man then attempted to flee on foot but was caught by police. He was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, the SIU said.

His name was not immediately released.

The SIU has assigned six investigators and one collision reconstruction expert to the case.

The alleyway, which is just north of Queen St. W. between Vanauley St. and Cameron St., remained closed off by police tape throughout Sunday morning while investigators examined a grey Toyota Sienna van and the police cruiser.

The van was directly behind the YMCA building on Vanauley St., and appeared to have damage to its front end.

Area resident Karim Elbarbary, 25, said he heard two shots early Sunday morning from his ground floor apartment in a condominium building next to the alley.

“I live right beside it,” he said stopping in front of police tape on Cameron St. with his dog Goji, a ginger chow chow.

“If I opened the door, I would be right there. But I didn't think that would be wise.”

Right after he heard the shots, Elbarbary said he heard what thinks was a building alarm, and saw flashing lights.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

"The area is changing. You often hear fights in the alley. It’s concerning,” he said.

The SIU is an independent provincial agency that investigates incidents involving police resulting in death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.

With files from Laurie Monsebraaten

Jacob Lorinc is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @jacoblorinc

Read more about: