Judge tosses seized gun over racial profiling of Black driver, cites ‘systemic' problem inside Peel police
The case, which resulted in the unravelling of a firearms prosecution, adds to a list of similar incidents that demonstrate a 'systemic and intractable problem' within the police service, Superior Court Justice Renu Mandhane said in a sharply worded ruling that excluded a rifle discovered in an unlawful search of a Jeep driven by a Black man.
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Toronto Sun
10 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
CRIME SCENE: Police seek suspect car after shooting in Brampton
Peel Police are seeking this suspect vehicle following an attempted house break-in followed by a shooting in Brampton on July 15. Photo by Peel Regional Police Peel Regional Police are seeking the public's help to solve a shooting in Brampton. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Police said, on July 15 around 11:50 p.m., officers responded to a report of a shooting in the area of Long Meadow Rd. and Prince Edward Blvd., near Castlemore Rd. and McVean Dr. Cops later determined a suspect attempted to break into a residence and, at some point, discharged a firearm toward the home before fleeing the scene in a vehicle northbound on Long Meadow Rd. The suspect vehicle is described by investigators as a 2022 Honda Passport Trailsport bearing an Ontario licence plate CKHB388. Police said the suspect or suspects are considered armed and dangerous and advise the public not to approach or engage. Anyone who observes the vehicle or has relevant information is urged to call 911 immediately, cops added. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Police are also asking area residents, motorists, and business owners for any information including dash cam or surveillance footage of the Honda and its occupants, particularly in the area of Long Meadow Rd. between 11:30 p.m. on July 15 and 1:30 a.m. on July 16. Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators from the 21 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau at 905-453-2121, extension 2133. Anonymous tips can also be provided through Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). RECOMMENDED VIDEO SPORTS COACH FACING ADDITIONAL SEX CHARGES A Markham sports coach is facing three additional sex charges following his arrest nearly two months ago . York Regional Police made a public appeal for additional victims to come forward in early June after 58-year-old Garth Morris was charged with four offences — invitation to sexual touching under 16, sexual interference with a person under 16, sexual assault and sexual exploitation. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. According to police, those charges were laid in relation to a victim who reported incidents beginning in 2017, when they were under the age of 16, and continuing through to 2021. At the time, investigators said Morris was coaching youth basketball, tennis and volleyball in Markham. Now, cops said more victims have come forward with historical reports, with one of the alleged incidents dating back to 1994 when the accused was coaching in Toronto. Garth Morris, 58, of Markham faces three new charges of two counts of sexual assault and one of sexual exploitation after earlier being charged with four sexual-related charges. (York Regional Police) Photo by York Regional Police Cops said, based on this new information, investigators are re-issuing his photograph and renewing their call for anyone who may have additional knowledge or experiences, regardless of when or where they occurred, to contact police. Morris now faces two additional counts of sexual assault and one charge of sexual exploitation. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Anyone with information is asked to call the York Regional Police Special Victims Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7071, or anonymous tips can be made by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Read More HAMILTON COP ACCUSED OF ASSAULT WHILE OFF DUTY A police officer in Hamilton has been charged with assault following an incident in Brantford. Hamilton Police announced on Friday that Const. Peter Franchin has been charged with assault while he was off-duty on May 12. Police said the alleged assault involved a member of the public. The civilian has also been charged with assault. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Brantford Police conducted the investigation, resulting in the charge against the cop. MAN ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING PARKING ENFORCEMENT COP A Toronto man is facing charges after he allegedly assaulted of a parking enforcement officer in the downtown core earlier this week. Toronto Police said, on Wednesday around 12:30 p.m., officers responded to a call for an assault in the Richmond St. E. and Victoria St. area. It's alleged that a parking enforcement officer was working in the area when a man, unprovoked, assaulted the officer with a duffel bag. Cops say the officer did not suffer any physical injuries and continued on duty. Rees Kozoubenko, 31, has been charged with assaulting a peace officer with a weapon and fail to comply with a probation order. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5100, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477). ASSAULT CHARGES AFTER HATE-MOTIVATED ATTACK: COPS A Toronto man is facing assault charges following an incident downtown Thursday afternoon that police allege was motivated by hate. Toronto Police said officers attended a radio call at approximately 4:15 p.m. in the Church and Carlton Sts. area. According to police, the victims were walking on the street when they saw the suspect. The suspect, unprovoked, allegedly began yelling anti-Black racial slurs towards one of the victims. The suspect then struck one victims in the face, and engaged in a physical fight with a second victim, police said. One of the victims then called 911. When cops arrived, they located the suspect at the scene and arrested him. Kevin Hickey, 64, has been charged with two counts of assault. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-3500 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477). — Spiro Papuckoski Canada Toronto Blue Jays Toronto & GTA World Celebrity
CTV News
11 hours ago
- CTV News
Motorcyclist seriously hurt in crash at busy Kitchener intersection
Waterloo Regional Police at the scene of a crash at Lancaster Street West and Union Street in Kitchener on Aug. 1, 2025. (Dan Lauckner/CTV News) A motorcyclist has serious injuries following a collision Friday at a busy intersection in Kitchener. Waterloo Regional Police said the motorcycle was turning left onto Union Street when the rider was struck by a Jeep, travelling in the opposite direction, on Lancaster Street West. The 64-year-old man on the motorcycle was taken to a hospital outside Waterloo Region. His injuries were only described as serious. The driver of the Jeep, a 58-year-old man, was not hurt. Police initially closed the intersection, as well as the Highway 85 exit to Lancaster Street, for the investigation. Both have since reopened. Investigators are asking anyone who was in the area and witnessed the crash, or has dash cam video, to contact police at 519-570-9777, ext. 8856.
Global News
a day ago
- Global News
Toronto man pleads guilty to manslaughter in deadly 2020 shooting spree
Elijah Simpson Sweeney, one of four suspects who walked into the courtyard of a North York housing complex and opened fire almost five years ago, killing an innocent man and wounding another, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault for his role in the apparent random shooting. Simpson Sweeney, who is now 25 years old, was originally charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder but pleaded guilty to the lesser charges. Court heard he was not one of the shooters whose bullets struck 57-year-old Anthony Martin, who was killed, nor Taswrell Salmon, who survived. Both victims were among a group of people who were playing a game of dominoes at the time. Simpson Sweeney has been in custody since Jan. 25, 2023, when he was arrested in North Bay by Peel Regional Police. Story continues below advertisement According to an agreed statement of facts read out in a downtown courtroom on April 8, 2021, arrangements were made for Simpson Sweeney to attend a Toronto police station to turn himself in. On that same day, he left his residence and cut the ankle monitor that he was required to wear as part of an existing release order he was bound by at the time. Simpson Sweeney did not attend the police station, and efforts to locate him were unsuccessful. On April 26, 2021, a warrant for his arrest for murder and attempted murder was issued. The facts state that on Sept. 24, 2020, during a span of two hours, there were three shootings in Toronto. Each shooting captured by video surveillance involved four masked men, at least three of them armed with firearms, travelling in a Toyota Corolla bearing a Pennsylvania licence plate. Simpson Sweeney was one of the involved masked males in the final shooting at 89 Gosford Blvd., but the only man in the group carrying a shotgun. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Video surveillance showed at least three of the four males carrying firearms, including Simpson Sweeney. The group fired numerous shots in the direction of the individuals in the courtyard. Martin was shot in the left buttock. The bullet travelled upwards and caused fatal hemorrhaging. Martin was pronounced dead at the scene. Salmon was shot underneath his right knee. He was rushed to hospital and survived, but the bullet remains in his leg. Story continues below advertisement Thirteen shell casings, including one casing from a shotgun, were recovered at the scene in the area where the masked shooters stood. 'Sweeney Simpson was a member and active participant in the group whose actions resulted in the unlawful death of Mr. Anthony Martin and wounding of Mr. Taswrell Salmon. However, the bullet that killed Martin and injured Salmon did not originate from Simpson Sweeney's shotgun,' assistant crown attorney Robert Kenney told Superior Court Justice Robert Goldstein. Just one hour prior, at 7:30 pm, there was a shooting at a townhouse complex at 185 Galloway Road. Video surveillance shows a Toyota Corolla driving slowly through the complex, following the path of travel of a male pedestrian walking towards a residential unit. The car then stops and a single masked man is observed hanging out of the rear passenger side window, firing several rounds from a handgun. Twenty-seven muzzle flashes were seen. 'During the shooting, the front passenger door of the Toyota Corolla swings open. As the Toyota Corolla exits the townhouse complex after the shooting, the front passenger door remains open, and the outline of a long-barreled firearm is visible,' said Kenney. Seven casings from a handgun were located at the scene. The male pedestrian was shot in the left buttocks and the upper leg. An hour earlier, at 6:25 p.m. in the area of 130 Driftwood Avenue, video surveillance shows two males exiting the rear of the Toyota Corolla, armed with handguns. The males fired several shots before running back into the car. No one was injured in this incident. Story continues below advertisement After the shooting on Gosford Boulevard, the suspects fled the scene in the Toyota Corolla, which was tracked to a townhouse complex on John Cabot Way. Five suspects can be seen later walking towards a building on Sheppard Ave West, including Simpson Sweeney, who walked with a straight and unbending leg, consistent with someone concealing a shotgun in their pant leg. The five males were met by a sixth male who was later found to be a resident of the building. The sixth male provided a change of clothes to one of the suspects and took a pair of shoes from him. Later, that suspect was observed attending John Cabot Way, where the Toyota Corolla was parked. Moments later, the vehicle was set on fire. When police later examined the torched vehicle, they found a spent casing that matched the bullet casings located on Gosford, Galloway and Driftwood. In November 2020, Simpson Sweeney was arrested in relation to a separate investigation by Niagara police and later released on bail. At the time, investigators seized his cellphone. After receiving judicial authorization to search the contents of Simpson Sweeney's phone, they found several pieces of evidence to suggest he was involved with the fatal shooting on Sept. 24, 2020. The cellphone contained directions from the area on Gosford Boulevard where the shooting happened to John Cabot Way, using the Waze application. It also contained screenshots of various news reports detailing the homicide investigation, along with screenshots of Martin and the vehicle of interest released to the media the day after the homicide. Story continues below advertisement Goldstein has ordered a Morris report at the request of defence counsel Michael Coristine. The judge told court it could delay sentencing since the report, which considers how anti-black racism should be considered in sentencing, typically takes about a year to complete. Coristine said his client understood that. A 17-year-old boy has already pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in relation to the shooting of Martin. In December 2022, the teen was sentenced to the maximum sentence for a youth, seven years in prison. He also admitted to being at all three shootings. Two other shooters and the getaway driver have not been identified. The sixth man, also a teen who admitted to setting the suspect vehicle on fire, pleaded guilty to accessory to murder.
