The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday August 1, 2007 - 3 Officer fires shots during police pursuit By Dennis Smith SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Police are searching for a Cadillac Escalade stolen from Burlington that they believe is connected to a shooting incident early Sunday afternoon on the westbound QEW in Oakville. Peel Regional Police say one of their officers fired shots at a black Yukon Denali after its driver deliberately tried to run him over near the highway's shoulder, east of Trafalgar Road. The Denali was abandoned in north Oakville where a pickup truck -- a black GMC Sierra registered to a Burlington resident -- was taken and abandoned on Porter Street in Burlington. Police believe the suspect then stole a burgundy or red 2002 Cadillac Escalade with the Ontario licence plate AKRZ 595. Peel Const. Adam Minnion said police aren't sure if the suspect was struck by any of the officer's shots, but said local hospitals were asked if they had treated anyone with a gunshot wound. None had reported such an injury. Police refused to say how many shots were fired by the officer involved in the incident. Minnion said there's no indication the suspect is armed, but he is considered dangerous. DAVID RITCHIE / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER SEARCHING: Police search the roadway on the QEW in Oakville at Ford Drive after a pursuit during which a Peel police officer fired shots at a suspect who tried to run him down. "If anyone has seen the vehicle, we're asking them to call police," he said. "They can call Halton police if they're more comfortable with that. We're working in co-operation, side by side." The suspect is described as male, light-skinned with dark hair, and wearing sunglasses. It's not known if there was anyone else in the vehicle. Minnion said the officer could not get much of a suspect description because the car was bearing down on him. The chain of events started at about 1:15 p.m. when a Peel plainclothes officer observed a suspicious black Yukon Denali near Mavis Road and Hwy. 403. He followed it through Mississauga onto the westbound QEW and called for assistance. Minnion said two police cars blocked the car in a tandem stop, but then the Denali suddenly swerved and accelerated toward an officer who was approaching on foot. That's when multiple shots were fired by the officer. Westbound QEW lanes were closed for two hours while police investigated. Minnion said this was done to preserve the crime scene. However, police did not continue their pursuit. "The risk to public safety outweighed the need to make an arrest at that time," said Minnion. "The suspect decided to try and run a police officer over and he could've run (people) off the road, so we didn't pursue the vehicle." The Denali was found shortly afterwards near the Great Canadian Superstore at Dundas Street and Trafalgar Road in Oakville. It's believed the suspect then took the black GMC Sierra pickup truck owned by a Burlington resident. The pickup was found in Burlington on Porter Street, where the Cadillac was stolen. Minnion said the use of firearms is among a Peel police officer's options for using force. He said if it's determined an injury was caused by the officer's use of his weapon, the province's Special Investigations Unit will investigate. If not, the incident will be reported and reviewed through Peel police. Det. Paul Garner of Halton Regional Police said the discarded vehicles will undergo forensic examinations for evidence like fingerprints. Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Halton at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit www.haltoncrimestoppers.com. CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANING 905.337.3117 Cleaning Solutions Thank you Oakville for once again nominating us as your choice in "Carpet Cleaning"! Try Us, You'll Be Amazed. 905.337.3117 www.amazingresults.ca