A 32-year-old man has been charged after he allegedly started a fire and assaulted three people, including a police officer who was trying to rescue him from Lake Ontario.
Shortly before 1 p.m. on Sunday, police received a fire call in the area of Bloor Street West and Bathurst Street and a stabbing call near College and Bathurst Streets.
Officers responded and learned that a suspect attended a residence and allegedly set a fire inside. Police said he then went to a nearby home, where he was engaged in a verbal altercation with a victim.
The suspect allegedly assaulted the victim with an edged weapon, which caused them to fall to the ground.
Police said the assault continued until another person intervened. The suspect allegedly proceeded to assault that person before fleeing.
Police said when officers found the suspect near Lake Shore Boulevard West and Remembrance Drive, he jumped into Lake Ontario, prompting a rescue effort.
During the rescue, the suspect allegedly assaulted one officer with an edged weapon. Police were able to pull him out of the water and take him into custody.
The officer, the two victims, and the suspect were all taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
In a news release on Wednesday, investigators announced the suspect, Variant Blutar of Toronto, had been charged with attempted murder, assault with a weapon, assault, assault a peace officer with a weapon, arson with disregard for human life, and three counts of failure to comply with probation.
