York Regional Police are intensifying their search for a suspect involved in an auto theft investigation after he ran over a police officer in Toronto last month.

The unsettling incident unfolded around 7:30 a.m. on April 30, when York Regional Police stumbled upon two stolen vehicles in the vicinity of Overlea Boulevard and Thorncliffe Park Drive in East York. Swift action led to the arrest of one suspect after a brief foot chase, but the situation took a dangerous turn when the second suspect took drastic measures to evade capture.

According to police accounts, the suspect made a desperate attempt to flee by commandeering a nearby vehicle. In a chilling turn of events captured on video and released by authorities, the suspect recklessly accelerated towards a pursuing officer, striking both the cruiser and the officer in the process. The impact sent the officer hurtling over the vehicle’s windshield before crashing into the ground.

Miraculously, the officer sustained only minor injuries and was promptly transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation. However, the suspect showed no remorse, fleeing the scene on foot after crashing the stolen vehicle into a nearby building.

York Regional Police have launched a manhunt for the suspect, described as a brown male with a thin build, black hair, and standing approximately five feet, eight inches tall. An image of the suspect has been released to the public, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward and assist in the identification and apprehension process.

Meanwhile, the individual apprehended at the scene has been identified as 18-year-old Toronto resident Ahmed Abdul-Wasee. He now faces a slew of charges, including theft of a motor vehicle, possession of property obtained by crime, and trafficking property obtained by crime.