Video of Toronto cop tackling cyclist sparks excessive-force debate

A video circulating online shows Toronto police officers using force to knock a cyclist off their bike after the rider allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign on Queen's Quay Monday. The incident has sparked heated debate on social media, with prominent personal injury lawyer and cycling advocate David Shellnutt calling it "a grossly excessive use of force." "Using force in this manner to hit a cyclist off their bike for a traffic infraction is incredibly dangerous and a possible example of excessive force," Shellnutt told blogTO. Under Ontario law, officers cannot use force during a routine traffic stop unless the circumstances present an immediate and serious threat to public safety. The Toronto Police Service said they are "looking into" the incident but provided no additional details. Some Toronto residents have criticized the officers' actions, while others argue the cyclist bears responsibility for failing to obey traffic laws. One commenter noted, "Cyclists constantly run stop signs in the city... They run stops and red lights without a care in the world." Cyclists who fail to stop can be fined $85 under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act. Tensions between Toronto's cycling community and police are longstanding. Advocates have accused the service of targeting cyclists and exhibiting anti-cyclist bias for years. In July 2025, a Toronto officer allegedly injured a cyclist during an interaction before issuing a ticket for not wearing a helmet, despite helmet use not being mandatory for adults under Ontario law. Shellnutt and cycling advocates are calling on Mayor Olivia Chow and Police Chief Myron Demkiw to address what they describe as anti-cyclist practices within the service.