Toronto police open fire on car, arrest 1 in Distillery District

Toronto police chased an allegedly stolen car thenfired multiple shots into its hood while arresting a man on Wednesday.

Edward Michael Skotnicki, 60, faces fivecharges, including dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.

The dramatic scene unfolded near Parliament and Mill Streetsaround 1 p.m. and was captured on video.

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Police confirmedofficers from 51 division fired multiple shots during the arrest, but didn't say if the suspect was armed or had threatened police. The investigation is ongoing and no charges have been laid at this time.

Skotnickireportedly has a long history of arrests.In 2007, a man by the same name was charged in a similar incident.

Footage captured from a nearby condo tower during yesterday's incident shows police cars boxing in the suspect and one officer firing several shots into the car's engine block.

Shannon Ferguson, who works in the area, described the scene as chaotic.

"All of a sudden, we heard, 'Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!," she told CBC News. "I've never heard that many gunshots. It was like a movie."

"We were terrified. We didn't know what was going on," she said.

Ferguson said she saw construction workers "and all kinds of people running through the park (near Parliament Street and Mill Street)."

Ferguson said her co-worker was crying and that the shooting left her shaking.

"It was scary," she said.

Toronto police said the car was reported stolen from the Bond and Shuter Streets area around 12 p.m., and a male was seen fleeing in the vehicle.

The car was located shortly after and officers gave chase, police said.