Barefoot man steals snow plow, kills cop
January 12th, 2011
01:55 PM ET

Barefoot man steals snow plow, kills cop

A man took a stolen snow plow on two-hour rampage through the streets of Toronto, Canada, Wednesday morning, killing a police officer and wrecking cars and a car dealership.

Police said the suspect stole the privately owned plow in downtown Toronto about 5:30 a.m., according to a report from CTV news.

Police Sgt. Ryan Russell, 35, was struck by the plow and pinned against his cruiser when he tried to stop the truck about a half-hour later, according to news reports. He died in a hospital emergency room.



The suspect hit numerous vehicles as he continued through the city’s streets for another half-hour or more, and rammed the plow into a Ferrari dealership, according to news reports.

Just after 7 a.m. the plow came to a stop after hitting a garbage truck, according to news reports. Officers approached the plow and opened fire, gravely wounding the suspect. He was in critical condition at a hospital, CTV reported.

According to a report in the Toronto Star, the plow company employees were working outside their vehicle when the suspect – a “guy with no shoes” – jumped in and sped off.

“He was barefoot and just came running and jumped in,” plow company President Peter Tolias told the Star. Officials have not released the suspect’s identity and have not speculated on a motive.

The fallen officer was an 11-year veteran of the Toronto force.

"This is the worst of days for the Toronto Police Service," Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair was quoted as saying.

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Filed under: Canada
soundoff (343 Responses)
  1. julie

    i hope that the police officer family knows we all send our love and hugs to them all I am very sorry for their loss. To the officer thank you for keeping our streets safe. God bless.

    January 12, 2011 at 5:22 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Patrick

    CNN should really disable the comments for this story...

    January 12, 2011 at 5:22 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Jay florida

    Most of the americans making comments are surely from new york they are the only ones that would make fun of such a sensitive subject even though tragedy has struck there what does race,religion or where your from matter a child will not see his father again as americans we personally need to stop worrying about problems abroad and concentrate on ourselves I wish the family all the best at this dark time!

    January 12, 2011 at 5:23 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mark, Toronto

      Jay, quite true, no different to see the ugly comments about Tuscon, everyone looking to get in some cheap shots with no thought at all to a family that lost a little girl, the congresswoman's husband wondering whether she'll be the same again – there is nothing funny about any of it. Regardless of where, these folks had kids and spouses – that seems to continually get lost in the noise.

      January 12, 2011 at 5:46 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Canada - Our little sister

    "Zach Canada

    still spelled wrong."

    Oh yeah, eh? How is that, hoser? Take off...

    January 12, 2011 at 5:24 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Scott

    Damn. I can't get a hold of my uncle Dave in Toronto. Last time he stole a Greyhound bus in Niagra Falls and tried to race it over the border. Could it be? Naw, it couldn't be. Could it?

    January 12, 2011 at 5:24 pm | Report abuse |
    • Dirty Harry

      What a stupid A$$ moronic comment!! Get a life you jackhole!!!

      January 12, 2011 at 6:08 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Patrick

    CNN should really disable comments for this...

    January 12, 2011 at 5:26 pm | Report abuse |
  7. arkansas

    for all canadians out there i apologize for people making fun of this tragety but next time how bout you dont blame it on the fact that they're from america. stupid people are all over the world, yes even canada. i feel bad for the family, but i also want to say tat commen sense says screw trying to shoot at a big plow that you should know your bullets cant possibly go through and get the hell out of the way.

    January 12, 2011 at 5:26 pm | Report abuse |
  8. stoptheviolence

    When will we finally understand that we MUST enact snow plow control legislation?! The risks of plows clearly outweigh the benefits. Why can't you conservative nut jobs see that all they do is kill people? Only snowmen and polar bears should be allowed to own one.

    /metaphorical sarcasm

    January 12, 2011 at 5:30 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Like that

    This is absolutely Obama's fault. Not the barefoot man, Obama.

    January 12, 2011 at 5:33 pm | Report abuse |
  10. MaineNative

    This is a very sad sorry for all involved. This man obviously had some serious issues if he was out barefooted in the snow stealing a plow. Seems the officer must have been trying to get out of his car quickly when the plow was coming his way but could not get outta the way fast enough. Condolences to his family and all involved. Canada or USA....heck anywhere who cares a human is a human and we should all have some compassion....even for the crazy that did it!

    January 12, 2011 at 5:36 pm | Report abuse |
    • sandra22

      amen to that. We all deserve compassion.

      January 12, 2011 at 7:14 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Reddog

    Oops. It happened in Canada where people have a right to keep and bear snow plows.

    January 12, 2011 at 5:38 pm | Report abuse |
  12. john

    For sure needed to be taken out...Its Not brutality,,, suspect was a danger and useless to society as a whole. Do you remember the creep who highjacked a tank in southern California a few decades ago? Destruction everywhere. Not many things can stop a tank , or a snow plow in this case. A bullet to the head stop him. Very tragic for the officer's family. So Sorry.

    January 12, 2011 at 5:38 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Patrick

    Another look at American culture on how their so inward and never outward.

    January 12, 2011 at 5:38 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mark, Toronto

      Sorry I cant agree with that, while there are some ignorant remarks, look more closely and you find just as many Americans asking us to ignore their hatred and ignorance. Relax, we can tell the good from the bad 😉

      January 12, 2011 at 5:49 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Patrick

    Leave it to CNN to allow this disgusting posting to take place. As long as they make money right?

    January 12, 2011 at 5:39 pm | Report abuse |
  15. Fiona

    Barefoot in the bitter-cold Toronto winter? The guy must have on speed or meth or something. Back in the Angel Dust days, you'd get wasted guys ripping their clothes off (from overheating) and fighting the police when confronted.

    January 12, 2011 at 5:40 pm | Report abuse |
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