Brady Roberston 20, of Brampton faces 5 charges in connection with 2 collisions this month

The 20-year-old man accused of causing a devastating crash in Brampton that left a mother and her three children dead has been convicted of driving offences in the past, court documents obtained by CBC Toronto reveal.

Brady Robertson faces four counts of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death for the fatal June 18 collision.

​​​​​Karolina Ciasullo, 37, and her three daughters Klara, 6, Liliana, 4, and Mila, 1 were killed after Robertson, allegedly speeding in a blue Infiniti Q35 coupe, slammed into their SUV near the corner of Torbram Road and Countryside Drive.

Their Volkswagen SUV then careened into a light pole, which fell onto the family trapped inside. The four victims were remembered at an emotional funeral service last week.

Robertson, who is from Caledon, also faces an additional count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle for a separate incident that occurred just two days before the fatal collision, on the evening of June 16.

And court documents show that Robertson is no stranger to provincial driving offences.

In May 2019, he was charged with driving while under suspension, using plates not authorized for a vehicle and failing to surrender his insurance card. He then failed to show up for a court date in January 2020, and was convicted of all three offences.

At around 8:30 p.m. on June 16, two days before the deadly crash that killed Ciasullo and her daughters, a blue Infiniti Q35 was involved in what police described as a "minor collision" at the intersection of Dougal and Kennedy roads in Caledon.

A video that circulated widely online captured the incident. In the recording, the car mounts a sidewalk while a pedestrian attempts to open the passenger-side door and pull the driver out. The driver appears to be passed out.

"Turn it off! Turn it off!" bystanders can be heard yelling amid the sound of screeching tires, before the driver suddenly reverses and speeds away.

According to Peel police, Ontario Provincial Police later spotted the blue Infiniti "travelling in a dangerous manner eastbound on King Street" in Caledon.

"Officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop but due to the speed and manner of which he was driving, the decision was made not to pursue the vehicle," Peel police said in a news release last week.

They later confirmed that they believe it was Robertson who was behind the wheel, and that he was charged with a single count of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle in connection with the incident.

Robertson is scheduled to appear in court on July 23.

Police watchdog probing fatal crash
Ontario's police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit, are probing the circumstances of the fatal crash on June 18.

The unit was called because a Peel police officer had observed Robertson's vehicle travelling eastbound on Countryside Drive shortly before it slammed into Ciasullo's SUV.

SIU spokeswoman Monica Hudon would not say whether a police chase was underway before the crash, or what transpired in the moments leading up to it.

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Toronto city council passes motion on police reform, but rejects cuts to budget

Toronto city council has passed a motion seeking reform of the city's police department, but rejected a cut to the force's budget.

Mayor John Tory put forth a motion proposing a suite of changes to policing that includes overhauling the response to those in crisis along with anti-racism measures and the implementation of body-worn cameras.

In a series of votes at a meeting on Monday, councillors voted in favour of the mayor's motion.

Two councillors had put forward a motion to cut the police budget by 10 per cent - about $107 million - and use that money for community services.

Council heard a cut of $107 million would mean the loss of about 1,000 sworn officers that could take years to implement due to collective bargaining agreements with the union.

But council decided to take a more incremental approach to police reform.

“We've put forward something that has been amended and improved and isn't meant to be the ultimate answer, but a comprehensive series of reforms that set in motion a process that should bring about the kind of change at the pace of change that is needed in response to the people that have marched in the street and that have been touch with our offices and so on,” Tory said.

Calls to defund police have grown around the world in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd, a Black man from Minneapolis. They also come about a month after the death in Toronto of 29-year-old Regis Korchinski-Paquet, a Black woman who fell from her balcony while police were in her home.

Thousands of protesters have taken to Toronto's streets over the last month demanding change to policing in the city.

Among other measures, the mayor is seeking the “creation of non-police led response to calls which do not involve weapons or violence, such as those involving individuals experiencing mental health crises and where a police response is not necessary.”

Police Chief Mark Saunders said he does not support arbitrary cuts to the force's budget, but does support overhauling how the force deals with those in crisis.

Saunders cautioned that there is currently no alternative system in place for handling mental health-related calls and says there must be a new plan in place before any reforms take effect.

“I embrace that idea, where someone creates something where we don't go at all, that's a great day for all of us,” Saunders said at a virtual city council meeting that is debating police reform.

The mayor is also seeking the cost savings to the police budget that change would make.

His motion also wants a line-by-line police budget breakdown, an auditor general review of the budget to identify cost savings and investment in community services.

The city is also looking for strategies to address anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism.

And it's looking to equip all officers with body-worn cameras by Jan. 1, 2021, which Saunders said would cost about $5 million per year.

As part of overhauling the response to mental health calls, Tory's motion seeks to have police notify crisis units for every call for someone experiencing a crisis.

There are currently eight mobile crisis intervention teams that involve a police officer and nurse trained in dealing with those in the throes of a mental health crisis, Saunders said. They do not operate 24 hours per day.

Police respond to more than 30,000 mental health calls per year, or about 82 calls per day. The teams are not primary responders - they are dispatched once patrol officers have arrived and evaluated the situation.

Saunders said mental health calls are complex.

“We're talking about calls where machetes are involved, axes are involved and whenever we do have these calls, it's mandatory two officers respond,” he said.

“I'd rather have the sit-down and all educate ourselves a little more on what we do and what the public wants done.”

Saunders is set to retire at the end of July and the mayor is also calling for a broad consultation with the public to find his successor.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 29, 2020.

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Shootings in Toronto up 20% as city council debates defunding police

City Council meets Monday to consider cutting the $1.22 billion police budget by 10% next year, or $122 million, at a time when shootings in Toronto are up by 20% over last year.

Gun violence this year is also on pace to surpass 2019’s record number of occurrences since police street checks (aka carding) were abandoned in 2015.

According to police crime data, as of June 21 there were 204 shootings and firearm discharge incidents in Toronto so far this year, compared to 170 at this time last year.

That means gun violence in Toronto this year is on pace to surpass the record 492 incidents that occurred in 2019, the highest level recorded since 2004.

Deaths and injuries from gun violence so far this year total 90, the highest level in the past six years, except for 2019 when there were 98.

The number of people killed by gunfire so far this year, at 21, is at the highest level it’s been over the past six years, except for 2016, when there were 22.

The number injured by gunfire so far the year, at 69, is at the highest level it’s been in six years, except for 2019 when there were 84 and 2018 when there were 71.

These grim statistics, fuelled by gang violence, underscore the recklessness of cutting the police budget by 10% next year, based on an absurd “Defund the Police” slogan popularized by the brutal death of George Floyd while in the custody of four Minneapolis police officers.

Four years ago, Toronto Council rejected four motions to reduce the police budget by as little as $12 million, proposed by Councillor Michael Thompson.

Among those voting with the majority to defeat Thompson’s motions was Councillor Josh Matlow.

And yet Matlow is now putting forward the motion at council calling for a $122 million cut to the police budget next year.

Mayor John Tory has proposed a more sensible plan to divert some police funding to vulnerable communities and to lower the incidence of fatal confrontations between police and civilians.

But let’s remember that while gun violence in Toronto is increasing, the number of uniformed officers has been decreasing, down almost 5% from 5,270 in 2015 to 5025 today.

According to the mayor’s office, Toronto today has fewer police officers per capita (167 per 100,000 population) than Vancouver (198) or Montreal (223), while the average American city with a population of over 500,000, has 243 officers per 100,000.

Finally, we have the continuing reckless refusal by Council, the Toronto Police Services Board and the province to acknowledge that eliminating street checks in 2015 because of concerns the practice was racist has led to an explosion of gun violence in Toronto.

As retired staff-inspector Mike Earl, who headed Toronto’s Holdup Squad, told the Toronto Sun’s Chris Doucette in 2018:

“The city is in crisis and I don’t understand how anyone can deny it. The bad guys are running the streets. The provincial regulations (on carding) need to be revised. The longer they wait, the worse it’s going to be …”

Earl was referring to the fact the current provincial regulation to reform street checks to protect the rights of civilians questioned by police is unworkable, which was also the opinion of the judge who reviewed it for the province last year.

The result is that street checks have been abandoned by police, while gun crime continues to increase.

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Toronto in talks to move homeless people out of tents in 2 parks as nearby residents say they feel unsafe

City officials are in talks to move homeless people out of tents in two downtown parks and into hotel rooms as nearby residents say the encampment is encroaching on their green space and has made them feel unsafe.

Toronto Mayor John Tory says senior officials have been making "concerted efforts" for some time to rehouse people living in tents east of Yonge Street, in George Hislop Park, between Isabella Street and Charles Street East, and nearby Norman Jewison Park, between Isabella Street and Gloucester Street.

Roughly 40 tents have been set up in the two parks and they are seen as one encampment. The tents are near Sanctuary Ministries of Toronto, a Christian charity that seeks to provide community for marginalized people.

"I don't find the current situation to be satisfactory," Tory said in a telephone interview with CBC Toronto on Saturday. "I have met with representatives of the residents and some of the businesses in the area. The fact is, we are talking about a public park."

Tory said the talks include representatives from Sanctuary but the city will only try to reach an agreement for so long before it will have to take action.

"Our policy says, we give notice, we make those efforts, but those encampments can't continue to be in public parks indefinitely."

Residents in nearby apartment buildings say they are concerned about the encampment and have circulated a petition in the neighbourhood addressed to the mayor, premier, local MPP, councillor, and prime minister. They say residents are afraid to walk in the area and have been subjected to insults and threats, have witnessed drug use, seen needles scattered around and there has been vandalism.

They say the encampment has generated much garbage and people have been urinating in public places. Also, they say the lack of green space means children have no place in which to play.

Tory said some businesses that could have reopened have remained closed because of the encampment.

The residents also say the city has not been listening to them. Emails and calls have been made to the councillor and mayor and they say there has been little acknowledgement.

"We have tried everything, emailing, phone calls. We've been taking turns," Margarita Villarroel, a resident who lives in a building on Isabella Street, said on Saturday.

Villarroel said the first tents appeared about 10 weeks ago. The residents have been meeting weekly since June to discuss the encampment. The drug use is particularly disturbing, she said.

"It's truly overwhelming," she said. "The situation even too is worse at night. The screaming and yelling and chasing is really, really bad."

She said many seniors are afraid to use bank machines. Some residents have reported being chased. Not all the buildings in the area have their own security, she added.

Villarroel said she believes everyone in the tents should be moved all at once into housing where there are harm reduction services.

"The amount of garbage is so unhealthy for anybody," Villarroel added.

On Friday, June 19, Toronto police raided a tent in George Hislop Park and seized 76 grams of crystal meth, 16 grams of fentanyl and more than $950 in cash. Officers charged three people in the park with drug trafficking. Police allege that drugs were being sold from a tent.

Greg Cook, an outreach worker at Sanctuary Ministries of Toronto, said offers from the city to rehouse people now living in the park are welcome. He noted that Toronto's Streets to Homes program workers moved 36 people from George Hislop Park to temporary apartments in early May.

"Our position is always we want the best for people who don't have housing," Cook said. "We want people to be safe and to have access to basic necessities, such as food and bathrooms. Our position is that we need to support people so that they can stay alive."

About 1,000 to 2,000 people sleeping outdoors in Toronto.

Encampments have appeared in nearly 10 downtown parks because people have no other options, he said. Moss Park has about 50 tents. An estimated 1,000 to 2,000 people are sleeping outdoors in Toronto because there is no shelter space for them. There are 700 to 1,000 fewer shelter beds because of physical distancing requirements due to COVID-19.

Sanctuary has handed out more 400 tents since November 2019 because Cook said people need places to live.

"A tent is better than no tent," he said.

Cook said George Hislop Park is not Sanctuary's property and the charity is not in a position to guarantee that tents will not reappear there.

"I don't understand even the framing that it's somehow our responsibility or our say around the park. We want people to be safe obviously and a park is better than an isolated spot where people are more likely to be harmed and where they are more likely not to get support," he said.

"We are basically using every tool we can to make sure we are able to support people who don't have housing and who are poor and who need support," he said. "Often we get framed as the problem when we're just trying to support people who don't have the income to live in Toronto."

Governments are not building enough rent-geared-to-income housing, he added.

As for the residents, he said it's important for them to realize some of the people in the tents are in their early 20s and are trying to figure how to survive in the city. Homelessness results when rents skyrocket, wealthy people are not taxed heavily, governments pass austerity budgets and developers take over governments, he said.

"I encourage the residents to think about why this is happening," he said.

Councillor admits there is no instant solution
According to Coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam, who represents Ward 13, Toronto Centre, the city wants a guarantee from Sanctuary that tents will not reappear in the parks and the charity will not encourage new people to move in, but she acknowledged that there is no instant solution.

There are anywhere from more than a dozen to as many as 60 encampments in Toronto, she said.

Wong-Tam said rapidly rehousing people from the two parks is a priority. City staff have done site visits and Deputy City Manager Tracey Cook has indicated that the Sanctuary encampment should be one of the next ones rapidly housed. Wong-Tam estimates up to 70 people need housing.

She said the city could house the people in a former hotel, but there would have to be shelter support staff, case workers, maintenance and catering contracts. She said city staff are still working with Sanctuary leadership to ensure another encampment doesn't appear.

"Some of the residents want an instant solution from the city. I think it's important for us to recognize that homelessness is a crisis and not something that is going to be solved entirely by the city of Toronto on its own, especially not in the light of a global pandemic," Wong-Tam said in an interview with CBC Toronto on Saturday.

"As the local councillor, I am very worried about the public safety of those who are actually living in the encampment as well as those who are in the neighbourhood surrounding the encampment because of the violence that people have been subjected to," she said. 

"It's been extremely stressful for everyone in the neighbourhood. The social conditions and difficulties are out in plain sight," Wong-Tam said.

She said the people in the park need to be indoors with access to regular meals, bathrooms and medical attention. Some require mental health treatment, while others require addiction recovery programs. "As long as they are out on the street, they are going to be suffering," she said.


Tory agreed that there's no point in rehousing people if tents are going to reappear.

Sanctuary, for its part, said it is not responsible for poverty in the city and it believes the city is blaming the charity for homelessness.

As for the mayor, Tory said he knows the residents are upset.

"We are making an effort to do it as quickly as possible," Tory said.

"I would say we're working very hard on it. We've been trying very hard to talk to the residents. We've been talking to Sanctuary. The progress has been slower than I think anyone would like, in terms of making sure that we can have reasonable, acceptable options for housing put in front of people and to get the full co-operation of everyone involved," he added.

The mayor says he has a message for residents: "I understand their frustration. I have heard their message. I have heard their anxieties and their fears. We are going to work hard to try and resolve it in the normal way if we can."

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Dr. Allan Gordon 75, of Toronto charged with sexual assault against neurologist

TORONTO — Police say they’ve laid several new sexual assault charges against a Toronto neurologist.

Toronto police say the 75-year-old man was already charged with five counts of sexual assault in December.

Investigators allege the man sexually assaulted five patients at the Wasser Pain Management Clinic between 2002 and 2016.

The man is now facing another 14 counts of sexual assault and one charge of sexual assault with a weapon.

Police say the accused was the director of neurology at the downtown clinic, and first worked as a neurologist in Toronto in 1975.

Investigators say there could be more victims and are asking anyone with information to come forward.
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Connor Madison, 22, is wanted for second-degree murder in downtown Toronto

Police have released the image of a 22-year-old man wanted in connection with a fatal stabbing in downtown Toronto Thursday night that left a 30-year-old man dead.

Officers were called to Ontario and Wellesley streets just after 11:30 p.m. for reports of two people fighting.

When they arrived at the scene, they found the victim collapsed on a pathway that runs between a parkette and a nearby store.

Police said the man had multiple stab wounds to his abdomen. He was rushed to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The victim was identified as Stephon Anton Knights-Roberts, of Toronto.

On Saturday, police said Toronto resident Connor Madison is now wanted for second-degree murder.

He is described as five-foot-eight, weighs 122 lbs, and has short brown hair, and blue eyes.

Police said he is considered armed, violent, and dangerous.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers

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Housing Market Crash: CMHC Toronto Real Estate Price Expectations

Dana Senagama, Senior Specialist

 – Market Analysis Housing Starts to Rebound in 2021Total housing starts are likely to drop in 2020 before rebounding next year. Strong pre-construction sales across the Toronto CMA (particularly from mid-2019 onwards where typically over 80% of units are sold) owing to a more robust and diverse economy, will ensure that Toronto’s recovery will be slightly stronger than that of the rest of Ontario in 2021 and 2022.

Supply chain disruptions due to border closures and global lockdowns will curtail some starts activity throughout 2020. Moreover, labour shortages resulting from the pandemic (particularly if construction sites employ temporary foreign workers) will curtail some starts activity this year.

Resale sales and price to rebound in 2022Home sales in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) will decline for the rest of this year, and then start to recover by 2021 Q1 and show growth throughout 2022. A labour market with a heavy concentration of “office-based” companies will enable a greater number of employees to work remotely in the event that the pandemic drags on (and prolongs lockdowns) possibly ensuring business continuity and minimal interruption to receiving income.Short-term job losses will occur primarily in the retail and hospitality industries, which typically employ lower paid workers. Based on their average income level, these groups are more likely to rent than own.

Therefore, the negative impact to the homeownership market will likely be less severe but with a downside risk that sales will not return to pre-COVID levels in the forecast period.Average house prices were on an upward trajectory during the time period leading up to the provincial lockdown in mid-March. They will decline throughout the remainder of this year and into 2021.

Homeowners, particularly those owning ground-oriented homes (single and semi-detached and townhomes), will choose to keep listings off the market to wait and see how market conditions develop. Lower mortgage rates, mortgage deferrals and fiscal stimulus packages will likely ensure that many homeowners are able to meet their monthly mortgage payments and thus remain in the homeownership market. However, anticipated increases in the supply of condominium apartments will lead to softening prices next year. Increased listings because of moderating short-term rental demand (due to both regulatory and pandemic effects on short-term rentals) will force some investors to list their units up for sale. More units could also sit on the market longer as more buyers wait on the sidelines due to loss of jobs/income and wanted assistance in 2021. A significant number of condominium units under construction (54,000 units currently) will make its way to the resale pool and will further increase supply.

The upside risk to the forecast is a milder price correction with sustained resilience in the ground-oriented home market (detached and townhomes) and persistent demand for more affordable condominium apartment units.The downside risk to the forecast is a more severe and prolonged adjustment to the pandemic that will have far reaching economic consequences.

Vacancy rate and rent growth to ease Anticipated increases in supply, in terms of higher completions in primary rental units and more rental condominium apartments entering the secondary market should ease rent growth and vacancy rates in a historically tight rental market.

 Short-term job losses, which will likely persist mainly in the service and hospitality industries and typically employ lower-salaried workers, are more likely to affect renters. An uncertain job market will likely affect millennials that are looking to enter the job market. As a result, they may now delay their entry into the rental market and stay at home with parents and/or choose co-sharing living arrangements, thus reducing demand for rental units. Prolonged effects of the pandemic, such as border and airport closures, will reduce net migration  inflows – particularly immigration which has been a key driver of rental demand in the GTA.


https://assets.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/sites/cmhc/data-research/publications-reports/housing-market-outlook/2020/housing-market-outlook-canada-summer-61500-2020-en.pdf?rev=ee98fa7e-3704-4e5f-9c43-95f04113558f

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Maviya Tahir 18, of Toronto wanted in fatal Leaside shooting

An arrest warrant has been issued for an 18-year-old man wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old victim in Leaside earlier this month.

Toronto police responded to a shooting at Leonard Linton Park, in the Vanderhoof Avenue and Research Road area, at around 7:30 p.m. on June 9.

Police said the suspects who were in a vehicle approached and shot at a group of people sitting in a separate parked vehicle.

When officers arrived at the scene, they located two 20-year-old men suffering from gunshot wounds.

One of the victims was taken to a hospital, where he later died of his injuries. He was identified as Toronto resident Maaz Jogiyat.

The other victim had non-life-threatening injuries.

On Friday, police said Maviya Tahir of Toronto is wanted for first-degree murder and attempted murder.

Police have released a photo of Tahir. He is described as five-foot-ten, weighs 150 pounds, and has a light complexion.

“He is believed to be armed, violent, and dangerous. If located, do not approach. Call 9-1-1 immediately,” police said in a news release.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
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Stephon Anton Knights-Roberts, 30 of Toronto fatally stabbing in St. James Town parkette

A homicide investigation is underway after a 30-year-old man was fatally stabbed in a St. James Town parkette late Thursday night.

Police were initially called to the Ontario and Wellesley streets area at around 11:35 p.m. for reports of two people fighting.

Once they arrived on scene, the victim was found collapsed on a pathway that runs between the parkette and a nearby convenience store.

He had multiple stab wounds to his abdomen and was unresponsive at the time.

Paramedics did rush him to hospital via an emergency run but he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Police have since identified him as Stephon Anton Knights-Roberts, of Toronto.

Police have said that they are looking to speak with a white male in his mid 20s, who is possibly bald, in connection with the stabbing.

He was last seen running northbound from the scene and may be in possession of a knife.

“Currently investigators are in the process of interviewing witnesses that were found on scene but we are also appealing to any other witnesses who may have been in the area and may even have cell phone camera footage of what transpired,” Duty Inspector Paul Rinkoff told CP24 at the scene. “We understand that there was some shouting and screaming and that there was a dispute.”

On Friday morning several surveillance cameras could be seen affixed to the side of a convenience store near where the victim was found, though it is unclear whether the cameras may have captured the suspect in the homicide.

Rinkoff said that officers did conduct a canvas of some local businesses overnight as part of their investigation but are continuing to appeal to other witnesses to come forward.

He said that right now “it is too soon to tell what the motive may have been” for the homicide.

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Jatorri Williams, 19, has been charged with three Toronto murders

Detectives have arrested a suspect they allege is the triggerman in three Toronto murders.

Cops say that Jatorri Williams, 19, of Toronto, was arrested Wednesday and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, and one each of second-degree murder and attempted murder.

MURDER ONE: On Sept. 18, 2018, Jago Anderson, 19, was found with a gunshot wound on the ground at 4559 Sheppard Ave. E. He died at the scene.

MURDERS TWO AND THREE: On Oct. 1, 2019, at around 8:20 p.m., gunmen began firing shots in the area of Venetian Cres. just south of the Jane and Finch Mall.

The triggermen then allegedly squeezed off several shots at a teenage boy who suffered multiple wounds before escaping the firestorm. At 9:04 p.m., police say the same gunmen fired off a number of rounds at homes in the area of 2010 Sheppard Ave. W. No one was injured in that incident.

Finally, at 9:29 p.m., two men were in a courtyard at 306 Grandravine Dr. when police allege the same shooters fired a flurry of bullets. Both men were critically injured.

Delauntae Bryant, 24, and Eric Rowe, 20, were rushed to a nearby hospital where they died.

Bryant was visiting the city from Niagara Falls, where he worked in construction, and was planning on celebrating his birthday. He stopped by to see family because he was having car trouble.

“He was a good youth,” a younger brother told the Toronto Sun at the time. “I think he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Shortly before the shooting, the dead man’s brother said he spoke to him by phone and agreed to pick him up to take him out for his birthday. When he arrived at the complex, his brother and another male were on the ground in the courtyard suffering from gunshot wounds and surrounded by cops.

“He was shot in the head,” the emotional man said. “But he was looking at me … and he scratched his nose.”

Cops allege Williams and Jeziah Blair-Taylor, 20, of Toronto, were responsible for the double murder.

Blair-Taylor was arrested on Oct. 28, 2019 and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and attempted murder.

Williams appeared in court on Thursday on the charges.

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Photo radar to start across Toronto on July 6

Photo radar will start catching speeders on Toronto streets beginning July 6.

Mayor John Tory announced Friday that automated speed enforcement will start catching leadfoots at 50 sites across Toronto.

He started lobbying Queen’s Park for permission to use the technology in 2016. Approval came in December but COVID-19 restrictions delayed spring introduction.

“Following work done to make this service fully operational, starting Monday July 6, the city’s 50 automated speed enforcement cameras will start ticketing drivers who are caught travelling in excess of the posted speed limit,” Tory said in prepared remarks.

“The days of warning letters have come to an end. If you ignore the clearly posted warning signs and the law, you will get a ticket for speeding in these zones.”

Tory called photo radar “one of the many tools in our Vision Zero toolbox that is intended to reduce speeding in identified areas in an efficient and non-invasive manner.”

Tory said that, between, between March 23 and April 27, Toronto police saw a 600 per cent increase in stunt driving.

“Officers are clocking drivers travelling at three times the speed limit on our roads,” Tory said.

When a vehicle is caught speeding, an image of the licence plate will be captured and stored.

Once an offence has been confirmed, a ticket will be mailed to the registered vehicle owner within 30 days.

Offenders will be fined but no demerit points will be deducted as a result of photo radar tickets.

Tickets will outline the fine and next steps.
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Tent-occupied Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto a disgrace

You give them an inch and they will take Nathan Phillips Square.

Mayor John Tory was not available for comment in locked city hall during this COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, a mysterious, organized group has been occupying the space out front with more than 40 tents and dozens of people.

If you dare step foot on the public space at Toronto City Hall, you will be escorted off by a collection of lawless, humourless thugs who have been large and in charge there for a week. As social media posters have found out, documenting their new town in a prime location featuring a food tent and portable toilets, will have you run off. The squatters use tarps to surround visitors, and, in swarming style, force them to retreat until they are off the square.



In our case, out of respect for their privacy, to not violate their social distance boundaries or provoke, we covered their tent city uprising from the perimeter.

It didn’t matter. They came to us.

In fact, as these bullies came toward myself and my photographer colleague, I was concerned that one was going to strike me with an umbrella. Instead, he opened it up in my face — while four men got well within my two-metre space. There was no point in calling on the police for any intervention or support. A bicycle unit had been there for a while but they left 45 minutes before the incident.

Apparently, this random group is the law in Nathan Phillips Square now.

They have created a No Go Zone. Like in Seattle, it’s a smaller version of an autonomous area. In fact, they had people follow us around — communicating to each other on walkie-talkie radios. It’s surreal. They have taken over Nathan Phillips Square. And the city of Toronto seems to be honouring that. In fact, it was actually myself and a fellow Sun photographer who were asked by a city security officer (just doing her job, we understand) to produce media credentials. This is Canada now. Media accreditation for walking near the Toronto sign?

No thanks, Mayor Tory.

This is anarchy. Just like in the other tent city nations downtown, the anarchists know they are untouchable. They know they have diplomatic immunity.

No one in the city seems to have any answer for it. Tory was off talking about a pie-in-the-sky non-police response unit as the ridiculous defund-the-police movement rages at council — while they ignore the takeover at the pubic’s very own city hall entrance. There is even one tent, set up right next to the building itself, not far from the signs and graffiti railing against colonialism and calling for abolishing the police.

City spokesman Brad Ross in an email wrote “on Friday, June 19 (Juneteenth), a group called ‘Afro-Indigenous Rising Collective’ organized a sit-in/protest on College Street in front of Toronto Police Headquarters. The group made their way down Bay Street to Nathan Phillips Square, where they have camped overnight since Friday. The group has remained peaceful throughout. The City continues to monitor activities at City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square in relation to this event, with the safety of the public and staff as its priority.”

They are not peaceful. They are intimating and violating basic freedom of movement.

People can walk anywhere in Toronto without any interference. At least, that’s the way it used to be.

Now that Toronto Police has laid drug and sexual assault charges in the tent city in George Hislop Park, with Tory’s blessing, they should issue social distancing tickets like they did at Trinity Bellwoods Park or at the beaches.

Better yet, take back Nathan Phillips Square!

Do it now before the “protesters” make a decision on what inch to take next.
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Man fatally stabbed during downtown Toronto fight

Toronto Police say a man is dead after a stabbing late Thursday night in St. James Town.

Police were called just after 11:30 p.m. to Ontario and Wellesley Sts. for reports of three people fighting. Officers found a man unresponsive on the ground.

He was rushed to hospital but later died of his injuries.

Police say a suspect fled the scene of the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
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OCCUPIED TORONTO: Mayor John Tory surrenders Nathan Phillip square to thugs

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Terrell Burke Whittaker, 24, of Brampton, and Javontae Johnson, 18, of Pickering wanted in shooting at memorial for Toronto rapper Houdini

Toronto police say two men have been arrested and two more are wanted in the shooting at a memorial for the Toronto rapper known as “Houdini.”

The incident happened earlier in June when two people were shot at the vigil for Dimarjio Jenkins. Jenkins was killed in a brazen daytime shooting in Toronto’s Entertainment District in May.

Police say a group had gathered at the restaurant called Blaxx in North York for a memorial for Jenkins. Several people had gathered at the rear of the restaurant where there is a parking lot that is situated immediately north of the westbound lanes of Highway 401.

Just before 11:30 on June 9, a dark-coloured vehicle pulled onto the shoulder of Highway 401 and someone in the vehicle discharged a firearm towards the crowd. The car then fled westbound on the highway.

Several people in the parking lot allegedly began to return fire, directed towards Highway 401 and at least 60 shell casings were found at the scene.

Police say numerous vehicles passed this location while gunfire was being directed towards the highway, but thankfully no vehicles were hit.

Surveillance footage of the incident shows multiple gunshots going off. Investigators have identified at least 10 persons of interest brandishing firearms from the video.

Two people suffered gunshot wounds and attended Humber Wilson hospital shortly after where they were treated for their wounds.

Gaddiel O’Neil Ledinek, 24, of Milton was one of the men injured in the shooting and he is facing several firearm charges. Police say Ledinek was out on parole for possession of a prohibited loaded firearm.

Traequan Mahoney, 20, of Brampton was arrested later in the week and is also facing numerous firearm charges.

Police have also issued warrants for the arrest of Terrell Burke Whittaker, 24, of Brampton, and Javontae Johnson, 18, of Pickering. Both are alleged to have been in possession of firearms and allegedly discharged them during the incident.

Police are also looking to identify some of the other persons of interest seen in the video.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.

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Mayor Tory pushes for significant changes to policing in Toronto

Mayor John Tory is making a push to make significant changes to the way policing is done in the city, especially when it comes to mental health calls.

In a proposal set to be considered at next week’s city council meeting, Tory is asking that the city manager, in consultation with the Toronto Police Services Board, develop alternative models of community safety.

Among those models include the creation of a non-police led response to calls of a mental health crisis that do not involve weapons or violence.

The motion also calls on the province to immediately review and overhaul the Equipment and Use of Force Regulation to emphasis de-escalation, and modify practices that address the use of deadly force.

As well, the motion also asks that the TPSB provide an annual line-by-line breakdown of the existing budget, as well invite the Auditor General to review the budget and identify opportunities for savings and efficiencies.

The mayor is also recommending that city council commit that its “first funding priority for future budgets is centered on a robust system of social supports and services, including ongoing investments in Indigenous, Black and marginalized communities, with rigorous accountability mechanisms to measure performance.”

Tory is also recommending that the city manager develop plans to direct any savings from the police budget to critical community and social services, including initiatives to combat anti-Black racism, and Indigenous-led poverty reduction.

To read the complete motion, click here.

City Councillors Kristyn Wong-Tam and Josh Matlow have also put a motion forward to automatically reduce the police budget by 10 per cent and direct those funds towards community investments.

The motion also recommends requesting the province of Ontario give the city direct oversight of the Toronto Police Services budget.

On Twitter, Wong-Tam said the Mayor’s proposal is “not good enough,” adding there is no budget reduction mentioned which is “at the core of the movement to reform policing.”

Matlow also reacted to Tory’s proposal, tweeting, “Rather than add tens of millions more dollars on body cameras, it’s time to begin defunding the massive police budget & reinvest into community supports/policing alternatives to make our neighborhoods safer.”

Matlow added that Councillors Gord Perks, Mike Layton, Joe Cressy, and Paula Fletcher are supporting their motion.

Premier Doug Ford, however, squarely rejected the idea of cutting money for police.

“I just don’t believe in defunding the police: It’s a massive, massive error,” Ford said. “I don’t believe in cutting police budgets. Simple as that. I believe in increasing them.”

Ford said he supported giving more money to police for better training and community outreach, and to help them better deal with mental health calls. But a 10 per cent cut, he said, would mean 100 fewer frontline officers on the streets.

“You gotta be kidding me,” Ford said. “When you call 911, you expect the call to be answered, you expect the police to be there like ASAP.”

The premier did say those critical of the police response to some in crisis was valid, but insisted budget cuts were not the answer.

Tory, who said council had been flooded with calls and emails demanding changes, said it was imperative council show a total commitment to confronting systemic racism and reforming the current policing model.

“We must fix that model by changing the way policing is done in order to stamp out systemic racism within our police service, and to re-think, in some cases, whether police are the right community response at all,” Tory said. “Now is the time for that change.”

There have been several protests over the last month on the streets of Toronto, with demonstrators calling for an end to anti-Black racism and the defunding of the police service.

Last week, Black Lives Matter Toronto participated in sit-ins outside the Toronto Police Services headquarters and Toronto City Hall, painting “Defund The Police” in giant purple letters in front of police headquarters.

They have called for the defunding and demilitarization of police.

Canada’s largest mental health hospital, the Toronto-based Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, said this week officers should not respond to incidents involving people in crisis.

Dozens of doctors, who called policing a public health crisis, also urged the reallocation of police money to other community programs.

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Lashshantee Keslow 21, of Toronto charged with second-degree murder in fatal shooting near Ryerson University in March

A 21-year-old man has been charged in connection with the shooting death of a 25-year-old man near Ryerson University’s campus in March.

Toronto police responded to the area of Yonge and Gould streets, north of Dundas Street West, at around 7:30 p.m. on March 21 for reports of shots fired.

When officers arrived at the scene, they located the victim suffering from a gunshot wound.

The man was taken to hospital where he was later pronounced dead. He was identified as Toronto resident Mamadou Drame.

Police previously told CP24 the victim was involved in an altercation with the suspect before the shooting.

Earlier this month, police released an image of the suspect, as well as a surveillance video of the incident.

On Wednesday, police said Lashshantee Keslow, of Toronto, was arrested. He has been charged with second-degree murder.

Keslow is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday

Anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.

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Toronto Police investigating shooting involving 2 vehicles in Yorkdale

Toronto police are investigating after a shooting was reported in the Yorkdale are on Monday evening.

Officers responded to reports of the occupants of two vehicles shooting at each other in the Caledonia Road and Bridgeland Avenue area around 7 p.m.

The suspect vehicles fled the scene.

Police found evidence of gunfire and shell casings on scene but no injuries have been reported at this time.

Road closures are in effect in the area.

Caledonia Road is closed in both directions from Lawrence Avenue to Bridgeland. Orfus Road and Bridgeland are also closed in both directions from Caledonia to Dufferin Avenue.

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Man wanted for sex assault in Don Mills and Sheppard area

Toronto police have released images of a suspect they are looking for in connection with a sexual assault over the weekend.

The incident occurred around 5 a.m. on Saturday in the Don Mills Road and Sheppard Avenue East area.

Police say the victim had fallen asleep on a park bench. A man approached the bench, frisked the victim for valuables and then reached beneath the victim’s clothing and sexually assaulted the victim.

The suspect fled the scene when the victim woke up.

He is described as 20 to 25 years old, 6 feet tall weighing 160 pounds with long hair and facial hair. He was wearing a yellow shirt, blue jeans, grey sneakers, a white hooded sweater and a dark red backpack.

Anyone with information is asked to call police.
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List of businesses that can open in Toronto on Wednesday

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Police investigate suspicious fire, explosion at Hwy 7 and Keele St business

Police are continuing to investigate a suspicious fire and explosion at a business in Vaughan over the weekend.

Police say at around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, officers were called to an industrial unit on Freshway Drive, in the area of Highway 7 and Keele Street, for a reported explosion.

When they arrived, they found two commercial units damaged and on fire.

After the flames were extinguished, police discovered signs that suggest the fire may have been intentionally set.

The fire also led to an explosion that blew out a garage door at the rear of the building and a wall separating two business units.

Three unoccupied vehicles parked in the area were also damaged by the blast.

No injuries were reported.

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact investigators or Crime Stoppers anonymously.

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Toronto cop deeply involved in tow truck corruption ring

Toronto police allege one of their own was deeply involved in a corrupt tow truck ring, alleging stolen police radios gave drivers access to secret broadcasts for a fee, allowing them to find crashes faster and avoid police detection during the industry’s ongoing turf war.

Toronto police Supt. Domenic Sinopoli said that starting in Aug. 2019, they were made aware of a group of tow truck drivers that had access to the police service’s encrypted radio network.

The drivers allegedly broadcast police transmissions over the internet for a fee, and were able to gain access after a police radio disappeared from a division in Etobicoke.

On May 9, police stopped a driver of a tow truck on Highway 400, Sinopoli said.

When they searched the vehicle, they allegedly found the police-issue encrypted radio taken from 22 Division the year before.

They charged the driver, 27-year-old Barrie resident Kevin Lima, and released him at the scene.

Technicians examined the radio and found it was authentic, but a radio with the same identification number was still being used by police in 22 Division.

“The radio at 22 division was cloned from the one seized from Kevin Lima,” Sinopoli said.

Later that month, on May 26, police raided three homes in Brampton, Barrie and Toronto and allegedly found other radios, parts and tools used to clone radios.

They also allegedly found a Toronto police radio that had been reported missing from 14 Division.

On June 9, another Toronto police radio was found in a tow truck stopped by police on Billy Bishop Way in Toronto.

Lima and two other men found inside the truck were arrested, and a 9mm handgun was allegedly seized.

On June 15, Toronto police Const. Ronald Joseph was arrested and charged in relation to the theft of one of the radios.

Sinopoli said Joseph, who is currently suspended with pay, owned two tow trucks and a car rental agency.

Police allege Joseph received kickbacks from a network of tow truck drivers for the provision of stolen police radios, and got referrals to his car rental agency from people involved in collisions.

Sinopoli said police were always aware of Joseph’s car rental agency but did not know he owned two tow trucks.

Three days after Joseph’s arrest, a number of other raids throughout southern Ontario yielded police $35,000 and six tow trucks, along with seven more arrests.

“I do agree with you that the (towing) industry is rife with corruption, that doesn’t necessarily mean all tow truck drivers are corrupt,” Sinopoli said. “There are certain individuals taking advantage of the system and opportunities available to them to facilitate their business interests.”

The GTA tow truck industry has been the target of scrutiny for two years, after a turf war involving numerous arsons and at least one homicide.

Last month, police in York Region charged 20 people in connection with the ongoing violence.

All eleven men charged by Toronto police face offences including participating in a criminal organization.

They are each scheduled to appear in court at Old City Hall on Sept. 4.

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Yorkdale reveals what to expect when mall reopens on Wednesday

One of Toronto's busiest malls will reopen its doors this week after being closed for nearly three months.

Yorkdale Shopping Centre said it will reopen on Wednesday, operating daily between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.

The announcement came just hours after Ontario announced Toronto would move forward to Stage 2 of the province’s reopening plan on Wednesday.

“Yorkdale and its retailers are focusing all efforts on reopening the shopping centre with the health and safety of employees and customers top of mind,” a spokesperson told CTV News Toronto on Monday.

"Individual stores may open on different dates after June 24th as they continue to reorganize space to ensure appropriate social distancing."

Yorkdale said a number of safety measures will be in place to ensure the safety of customers, including frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces, signage to guide traffic flow and multiple hand sanitizer stations.

Customers are being encouraged to check the mall’s website for an updated list of the stores that have reopened. 
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SIU investigating after man, 62, shot and killed by police

The province's police watchdog is investigating the death of a 62-year-old man who was shot by a Peel police officer in Mississauga on Saturday evening.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said that officers were called to an apartment unit at 3425 Morning Star Drive, near Goreway Drive, at around 5 p.m. to "check on the well-being of a man."

Peel police Const. Sarah Patten said the initial call reported that the man was suffering from a medical condition and not taking his medication.

Patten says the man, who was alone in the unit, was in a "state of crisis" and believed to have weapons on him in his residence.

Muhammed Choudry says the victim was his uncle and he suffered from schizophrenia and other illnesses.

"He was a harmless man," he said, adding that his uncle was "not a threat."

Uniform and tactical officers, as well as officers with the force's K9 unit, responded to the incident and made communication with the man, who had barricaded himself within the residence.

Patten said officers were in constant communication with the man until just before 8 p.m., and then "no further communication was able to be made."

"The state of crisis that he was in and the belief that he had access to weapons, yes, we believe that he was a danger to himself," Patten told reporters Saturday night.

Due to his "extensive medical history" and lack of communication for almost 15 minutes, Patten said officers made the decision to enter the residence "to check on his well-being."

Once police entered the unit, "an interaction occurred which included officers deploying a conducted energy weapon at the man, as well as firing plastic projectiles from an Anti-Riot Weapon ENfield," read the SIU release.

"When these had no effect, an officer discharged a firearm and the man was struck."

The man died on scene shortly after.

Six investigators and three forensic investigators have been assigned to the case.

Anyone with information or has witness video is asked to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529.

The Special Investigations Unit investigates cases involving police where there has been a death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.  
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Samir Abdelgadir, 39 of Toronto is the accused in drug-related kidnapping, now free on bail

An alleged kidnapper of a teenaged boy who was a high-profile pawn in an enormous drug-ripoff is now free on $100,000 bail, partially thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Samir Abdelgadir was released on a house arrest with GPS ankle monitoring at his mother’s Mississauga home in a decision released by Justice Carol Brewer on June 9.

Abdelgadir, 39, who is a McMaster University business graduate with no prior criminal convictions, worked as a manager at a restaurant where his mom is a partner.

His mom, 64, supports herself from rental income from properties she owns, and her own savings.

Abdelgadir and three others are accused of the brazen abduction of 14-year-old Shammah Jolayemi, taken on his way to school on the morning of March 4, 2020.

Jolayemi’s half-brother, Olalekan Osikoya, worked as a drug and firearms courier for a mid-level Toronto drug dealer for $10,000 a month starting in the summer of 2018, police sources told the Sun.

Osikoya was upset because he wasn’t paid on time, or not at all, by the dealer, who dismissed his complaints. Osikoya conspired with another drug courier to steal a drug shipment last summer, a source told the Sun.

Osikoya obtained 90 kilograms of cocaine in London, but when he met his accomplice, he was robbed at gunpoint of 75 kg of the haul. Osikoya fled with only 15 kg of cocaine and went into hiding, but the mid-level dealer believed he stole the entire amount, sources said.

The dealer who is in the middle of the criminal organization’s hierarchy was responsible for the cost of the stolen stash. His charges relating to the kidnapping were stayed last month due to a lack of admissible evidence.

He remains charged with trafficking offences but is free on bail and living in London with his elderly, divorced parents.

The dealer visited Osikoya’s parents home, hunting for him and later dispatched henchmen to break into Osikoya’s and his girlfriend’s homes.

Later, Osikoya discovered that the dealer put a $400,000 bounty on his head. That plan failed as well, the source said.

A plot was hatched to kidnap Osikoya’s kid brother to force the drug thief to return the shipment and save his sibling.

A source said Abdelgadir was allegedly instrumental in the planning and execution of the kidnapping, which led to the terrified teen being held hostage for 38 hours.

Osikoya allegedly used to make deliveries to Abdelgadir, who worked as muscle for the organization, sources told the Sun. Osikoya identified the drug dealer and Abdelgadir to police in the investigation and provided one videotaped statement that was helpful to detectives, the source told the Sun.

The kidnappers used three vehicles, a stolen black 2015 Jeep Wrangler, a 2017 Mercedes and a Chevy Tahoe, to execute the abduction in the Driftwood Ave. and Finch Ave. W. area. The incident was seen by neighbour witnesses and captured on TTC security video footage.

Those vehicles were traced by police through a combination of surveillance video, CCTV and 407 transponder readings.

The blind-folded, bound hostage was kept in an abandoned home on Edgeforest Dr. for 38 hours, sources told the Sun.

The victim contacted his half-brother through Snapchat as it was the only way he communicated with his hiding sibling. Osikoya was warned by his half-brother’s abductors he’d better return what he’d stolen or his brother would die, sources told the Sun.

Osikoya broke the news to his father and police kick-started their investigation.

The stolen Wrangler was torched at the Forks of the Credit Provincial Park.

The victim was rescued, disheveled but unharmed, by police after an impassioned plea by Supt. Steve Watts to the kidnappers to release the teen.

Abdelgadir, who was charged but never convicted of  earlier serious offences, has abided by all strict bail conditions during that 18-month period.

He is banned from associating with his co-accused, the kidnapping victim or his half-brother and is also barred from possessing weapons.

A publication ban was imposed on his bail hearing, so the judge’s reasons for releasing him cannot be divulged. But all judges have considered the COVID-19 pandemic as a factor — among many — in bail  hearings this spring.

There has been a 31% decrease in Ontario jail populations since the outbreak began in mid-March.

As of May 25, the  Toronto South Detention Centre has three inmates who tested positive for COVID-19, five inmates who have recovered and two released from custody. One staffer also tested positive for the virus.

There were 132 shootings in Toronto between Jan. 1 and April 27, 2020 — which is more than the same period in the  previous four years. It’s a 20% increase over the same period last year.

The kidnapping occurred in 31 Division, which yielded the highest number of shootings in 2019 and in the first four  months of this year.

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There Have Been 7 Shootings In A Midtown Toronto Neighbourhood In The Last 2 Weeks

Toronto Police | Handout

Police investigating after a series of Toronto shootings took place over 15 days in the Lawrence Heights area. Investigators are asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspects by releasing security images and footages of the Lawrence Heights shootings.

According to Toronto Police Services, all seven shootings occurred back in July. The first took place shortly before 5 p.m on July 15. A security camera captured two men exiting a vehicle at 36 Pengarth Court, before approaching a man sitting in a parking lot and opening fire on him.

Police released descriptions of the two male suspects. The first suspect is described as 5’10 with a slim build. He was last seen wearing a black sweater, grey pants, and a baseball hat. The second suspect is described as 6’0 and was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, black bandana, and grey shorts.

Toronto Police | Handout

According to CBC, the next two shootings occurred on July 26. The first shooting took place near the area of Tundra and Varna Driver area. Upon arriving at the scene, officers found numerous bullet holes in two windowpanes but noted that no victims had come forward.

Officers then responded to a call for gunshots at 88 Ridgevale Driver where it is suspected that several occupations in a black four-door sedan approached a pedestrian and opened fire on them.

Toronto Police | Handout

Two more shootings went down the following day in the areas of Lawrence Avenue West and Verma Drive, and Bathurst Street and Lawrence Avenue West.

Toronto Police | Handout

On Monday, July 29, officers again responded to a call of a shooting in the area of Celt Avenue and Highland hill. No victims have come forward.

Police would be back in the area shortly after 2 a.m on Tuesday responding to reports of another shooting in the Ranee Avenue and Varna Driver area.

The victim in the incident claimed that a truck pulled up beside them and someone inside the truck firing. Police stated that the victim’s vehicle was shot at multiple times.

Police are asking anyone with information about any of the incidents to reach out to police or call Crime Stoppers.

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Jason Atis, 23, of Toronto is wanted in death threat investigation

Toronto police are asking for the public’s help in locating a man accused of making death threats against several people in the Greater Toronto Area.

Police say an investigation began on Saturday after they were informed about a man who allegedly made numerous threats to kill multiple people.

“The man threatened to use Molotov cocktails, and other various methods to harm people throughout the Greater Toronto Area,” police allege.

Police have identified him as Jason Atis, of Toronto.

Atis, who is described as six-foot-two, weighs 215 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, is wanted for threatening death.

“He is considered armed and dangerous. If he is seen, do not approach, and immediately contact police,” police say.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
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Suspect charged in Wexford Heights fatal shooting in Toronto

Toronto police have laid murder charges against a 20-year-old man after a fatal shooting in Wexford Heights last month.

On May 2, Daniel Boima, 23, of Toronto was shot in the area of Tower Drive and Brian Avenue near Lawrence Avenue East.

He was rushed to hospital where he died of his injuries.

Officers executed three search warrants Friday in Scarborough and in Oshawa. Joshua Johnson, 20, of Toronto was arrested as a result of the search.

Johnson is facing one charge of second-degree murder. He is scheduled to appear in court on June 24.

Investigators are looking to identify at least one other suspect.

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Karolina Ciasullo and her daughters Klara, 6, Lilianna, 4, and Mila, 1, died following a four-vehicle crash at Torbram Road and Countryside Road

TORONTO -- A mother and her three young daughters killed in a horrific crash in Brampton, Ont. have been identified.

Grade 4 teacher Karolina Ciasullo and her daughters Klara, 6, Lilianna, 4, and Mila, 1, died following a four-vehicle crash at Torbram Road and Countryside Road just after 12 p.m. on Thursday, according to an online fundraising page.

The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board released a statement Friday confirming Ciasullo was a Grade 4 teacher at Isaac Jogues Catholic Elementary School in Brampton, where the flag has been lowered to half-mast.

“Our deepest condolences go out to her husband, other members of the family, friends and colleagues. As a Catholic school community, we offer our prayers for the family and all those affected by this tragic event,” the statement reads.

Witnesses said the crash occurred when a blue Infiniti sped through the intersection while being followed by a police cruiser and collided with a van, which Ciasullo and her daughters were travelling in.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is now investigating. The SIU is an arm’s length agency that is called in to investigate any incident involving police and a member of the public that results in death, serious injury, or an allegation of sexual assault.

The SIU said on Thursday the six-year-old girl was pronounced dead at the scene. Ciasullo and her two other daughters were transported to hospital in critical condition but later died.

The driver of the Infiniti, a 20-year-old man, was also taken to hospital where he remains in life-threatening condition, police said.

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown alleges the 20-year-old driver had a prohibited licence for multiple driving offenses.

"He had plates that didn’t match his car. He only has a broken leg but his victims have had their lives stolen," Brown wrote on Twitter Thursday.

"There are no words that describe the pain and sorrow that Brampton is enduring with the needless death of a loving mother and 3 young children. I am infuriated that a reckless driving incident would rob this family of their future."

Neither the SIU or Peel Regional Police were able to confirm Brown's information when contacted.

Two other vehicles were damaged in the crash but no other serious injuries were reported

When asked if the Inifinti ran a red light, SIU spokeswoman Monica Hudson said Thursday it will be part of the investigation, as well as, whether the officer’s lights and sirens were activated.


Based on preliminary information, Hudson said the incident began when a Peel Regional Police officer, travelling west on Countryside Drive, observed an Infiniti in the eastbound lanes.

It is still unclear what exactly occurred in the moments before the crash.

No charges have been laid thus far.

Hudson said the SIU will conduct a thorough investigation as quickly as possible.

While the SIU conducts its probe, Peel Regional Police's major collision bureau will also be doing a parallel investigation into the cause of the crash.

"We will consider all factors in this investigation," Const. Akhil Mooken said Thursday.

He added the collision has been devastating to all of those involved, including the officers who responded to the scene.

"This is devastating, devastating incident... it is shocking," he said.

"As a parent, when I first saw this call come across, the first thing I could think of was my own daughter. (I) tried to imagine the pain that family was going to be facing."

The SIU said five investigators, three forensic investigators and one collision reconstruction investigator have been assigned to the case.

"More than one dozen civilian witnesses have been interviewed," the SIU said in a statement Friday. "Video footage from various sources has been retrieved."

Ontario Premier Doug Ford spoke about the crash at Queen's Park on Friday, calling the incident "heart-wrenching."

"I haven't stopped thinking about the Ciasullo family since I heard about it," Ford said. "It’s been on my mind non-stop. It’s heart wrenching."

"This is a family that has just been destroyed. I can't even imagine what the husband and the father is thinking right now."
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Toronto: Suspect was 'lying in wait' for man gunned down in 'targeted' killing in Corso Italia

TORONTO -- Police say that the suspect involved in a fatal daylight shooting in Toronto’s west-end early Friday afternoon was “lying in wait” for the victim.

Emergency crews were called to the area of St. Clair Avenue West and St. Clarens Avenue, near Landsowne Avenue, around 11:40 a.m. after receiving multiple reports of a shooting.

According to police, a man believed to be in his 30s had just entered his car when someone approached him and opened fire.


After the incident, citizens pulled the victim out and performed CPR until paramedics arrived, police said. Despite life-saving measures performed by officers, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Toronto police Duty Insp. Stacey Davis told reporters Friday afternoon that the shooter appears to have been “lying in wait” inside a vehicle before firing several rounds and then fleeing the area in a vehicle.

“It appears that he was in a vehicle and he was the passenger in a vehicle on one of our side streets,” Davis told reporters at the scene.

Davis said the shooting appeared to be targeted.

Multiple evidence markers could be seen in a taped-off section of St. Clair Avenue West as investigators canvassed the area for witnesses or video surveillance footage.

Earlier in the day, Toronto Police Const. Edward Parks said there were reports that there were "multiple individuals with firearms” at the time of the incident.

Parks also said that witnesses reported seeing a four-door sedan fleeing the scene as well as two possible male suspects.

No further suspect descriptions have been provided, but Davis did say that the shooter was wearing a hoodie.

“As far as suspects go, we don’t know who the suspects are,” Davis said.

Police are urging anyone with information to contact investigators or reach out to Crime Stoppers anonymously.

Roads in the area have been closed while the investigation into the fatal shooting continues.

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Protesters paint 'defund the police' on street in front of Toronto police headquarters

TORONTO -- Anti-Black racism protesters have painted “defund the police” on College Street outside of Toronto police headquarters in a message that is hard to miss.

The message was painted in large pink lettering that nearly spans the width of the street Friday morning.

Protesters outside of police headquarters also chanted for the defunding of police.

College Street has been completely closed from Yonge Street to Bay Street to accommodate the protest.

The protest comes as Black people in the U.S. and around the world mark the Juneteenth holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. The holiday marks the date in 1855 when slaves in Texas were told that they were free, some 30 months after the Emancipation Proclamation.

While that milestone in the end of slavery came 155 years ago, recent police killings of Black people have brought to light the glaring inequalities and societal racism that remain.

Governments and corporations have been rallying to recognize anti-Black racism as a systemic problem in society since an outpouring of anger over the video-recorded police killing of George Floyd on May 25 in

One of the rallying cries from protesters has been a call to defund police services. While some have advocated doing away with the current policing model altogether, others have suggested that some of the funds allocated to traditional policing could be better spent on mental health services and social programs that might stem some of the problems that police deal with.Minneapolis, Minn. sparked global protests.

In Toronto the annual police budget of around $1 billion usually comes in as the single largest line item in the City of Toronto’s overall budget.

The GTA has seen numerous protests, nearly all peaceful, over the past few weeks.

Chief Mark Saunders notably took a knee with protesters in one of the early marches.

Saunders, who has announced that he will be stepping down from his post at the end of July, has said that funds should not be diverted from TPS unless there is reliable infrastructure to deal with the issues that might be offloaded from police.

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