Driver sought after shooting at officer during Toronto traffic stop: police

Search for suspect who shot at officer during stop Toronto police are searching for a suspect accused of opening fire on an officer during a traffic stop.

Ontario Provincial Police say they are searching for a driver who allegedly shot at an officer during a traffic stop in North York early Friday morning.

The incident occurred at around 3 a.m. in the area of Lawrence Avenue and Allen Road.

According to police, officers first observed the vehicle, described as a white Lexus SUV, in the westbound lanes of Highway 401 near Allen Road.

The vehicle continued southbound to Allen Road and exited the highway at Lawrence Avenue, investigators told CP24.

A traffic stop was initiated in the right lane of the off-ramp to Lawrence Avenue and during that time, police said, the driver of the vehicle got out of the SUV and discharged a firearm in the direction of the officer before fleeing the scene on foot.

A construction worker who was in the area early this morning told CP24 that his crew was just beginning to set up for the day when the incident unfolded in front of him.

“I saw across the road the police had pulled over what looked to be a Lexus SUV,” he said.

“All of sudden driver of Lexus SUV jumped out and started running westbound along Lawrence Avenue and then the police yelled after him to stop running. He (the officer) ran after him and then I heard a single shot.”

Police said the officer was not injured and the suspect has not yet been apprehended.

With files from CP24's Beatrice Vaisman