Latest news with #GoodSamaritans
CBC
a day ago
- CBC
Father, 35, found dead in Lake Erie after being pulled under swimming
Emergency crews recovered the body of a 35-year-old man from Woodstock Monday after he was pulled under off the shores of Port Burwell Provincial Park the day before. Police said the man, who had been swimming with his teenage daughter at the beach, did not resurface when the pair got into trouble in the water around 3 p.m. Sunday. "What I've been told by witnesses is that dad was able to push the daughter closer to the shoreline. Two good Samaritans were able to grab onto the daughter and pull her to shore," Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Ed Sanchuk said. Police were not identifying the man, but earlier in the day, Sanchuk said his thoughts were with the family. Police worked with members of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Trenton to find the missing swimmer using boats, as well as drones and a helicopter. He warned people that the currents on Lake Erie are strong and swimmers should wear life jackets.
CBC
2 days ago
- CBC
Elgin OPP officer struck by fleeing vehicle during traffic stop
Social Sharing An Elgin County police officer is in hospital with serious injuries after being hit by a driver fleeing a traffic stop. On Sunday morning at around 10:45 a.m., the officer saw a suspicious vehicle driving on Hwy. 3 between Centennial Avenue and First Avenue in St. Thomas, Elgin County Ontario Provincial Police officials said. The officer pulled the driver over and during the interaction, the driver drove away, striking the officer with the vehicle while fleeing. The OPP was able to track down the vehicle later on and the suspect is now in police custody while the investigation continues. OPP Sgt. Ed Sanchuk provided a video update on the incident, acknowledging the "good Samaritans" who helped the officer. "We just wanted to simply say 'Thank you' for everything you did for that officer today," he said. The injured officer remains in hospital in serious, but non-life threatening condition. Police are asking anyone with information or video footage related to the collision to contact them.
New York Post
5 days ago
- New York Post
Women are still fed up with subway and street harassment — and grateful for vigilantes
Subway crime is down overall, but not assaults — leaving the vulnerable in New York City dependent on, and grateful for, vigilantes and Good Samaritans alike. A recent video showing a man attempting to grab a 20-year-old woman off a Brooklyn subway platform — and her narrowly escaping thanks only to the intervention of bystanders — has renewed fears among local women. A 2024 study from the mayor's office found more than half of New Yorkers report having been harassed on the streets in the past six months. Advertisement 9 Kelly Dillon was randomly attacked and seriously injured by a stranger in Manhattan last August. Courtesy of Kelly Dillon Kelly Dillon had just gotten off work as a traffic reporter in Hudson Square around midnight one night last August when she was shoved to the ground by a stranger. Her elbow went through a spike in a sidewalk planter, and her head slammed into the pavement. A carful of teenage boys pulled over and tried to catch the attacker on foot, but he was never apprehended. 9 Dillon was attacked outside of her Hudson Square office while leaving work at midnight. Google Maps Advertisement 9 'Even just the thought of going into the city, it gives me such anxiety. It breaks my heart because I love New York City,' said Dillon, who lives in New Jersey. Courtesy of Kelly Dillon 'There was no motive that I can think of. It literally was just a random attack to inflict fear, to inflict pain,' Dillon, 41, said. Dillon, who lives in New Jersey, suffered a severe concussion and has since been diagnosed with PTSD. And she hasn't returned to the city: 'Even just the thought of going into the city, it gives me such anxiety. It breaks my heart because I love New York City.' She commuted to Manhattan for two decades and only recently felt fearful: 'In all those years, I never felt unsafe, honest to God. And looking back, it was COVID. Things just went downhill.' Advertisement 9 A recent subway-platform attack in Brooklyn was only thwarted thanks to brave bystanders. TikTok/@nicabori5 While subway crime actually dipped below pre-pandemic levels this year, subway assaults are up 68% compared to 2019. An anonymous 33-year-old woman living on the Upper West Side told me she gets 'harassed daily' to the point that it 'makes [her] not want to go outside.' 'I am pretty much always on edge when I am in New York City, especially on the subway,' the New Yorker of eight years said. Advertisement 9 Andrea Giordano was randomly assaulted in the East Village in April. Courtesy of Andrea Giordano Last month at the 103rd Street 1 train station, a stranger grabbed her rear end. 'I literally started screaming, and everybody just looked at me,' the fitness professional recalled. 'Nobody really tried to help me. 'Everyone is on their phone, everybody's in their own little world, and people are not paying attention, or we've been taught to just ignore the situation,' she said. The mayoral report found that, although verbal harassment is more common, 53% of those who were harassed in the last six months experienced physical harassment. The most common forms were following (46%), touching (38%) and exposing genitals (32%). 9 Giordano was heading to the Jackdaw bar with a group of friends when a stranger grabbed her. Robert Mecea Andrea Giordano first moved to New York City from Philadelphia three years ago and assumed there was safety in numbers. But now, she's not so sure. 'I felt safe because there were people everywhere all the time — like, lights on, stores open and cars everywhere. But the longer I've lived here, I've felt less and less safe,' the 28-year-old Murray Hill resident told The Post. She was physically attacked in April, while walking with friends to Jackdaw bar in the East Village on a Sunday afternoon. Advertisement She admits she was on her phone when a man grabbed her face and tried to yank her towards him. He stalked her for several blocks and lunged at her, but a group of her male friends crowded around to protect her. 9 One New Yorker reports being groped at the 103rd Street 1 train station last month. Google Maps Giordano, an executive assistant, has since decided to Uber more often. But the price of safety, she estimates, is an additional $100 a week. 'When I'm out with guy friends and we're ending our night, they'll be like, 'You're not taking the train?' I'm like, 'You're a man. Like, you're fine. I have to pay $40 to get home,'' she complained. Advertisement Kathryn Cross, meanwhile, has been harassed because she doesn't use her devices while on the subway. 'The main problems arise if I'm looking around and make eye contact with others,' the 26-year-old Downtown Brooklyn resident said. 'That leads to crazies engaging with me.' 9 Kathryn Cross says she is harassed on a monthly basis in New York City. Courtesy of Kathryn Cross 9 Cross reports recently being spit on by a stranger in the subway. Courtesy of Kathryn Cross Advertisement She reports monthly subway harassment and occasional racial abuse, like one time when she was called a 'c—nk' and told to 'go back to China.' Most recently, at 11 a.m. at the Borough Hall stop, a man spat on her head. The sad truth is, every woman in New York has a horror story of her own. Between the Daniel Penny prosecution becoming a precautionary tale for bystanders and the anti-police movement focusing a microscope on cops' every move, it's true that safety in numbers feels more dubious than ever. Advertisement The recent viral video from the subway platform is a glimmer of hope. But it still makes me wonder: If I were so unlucky to be in that position again, would I be lucky enough that strangers would do the same for me?
Toronto Sun
6 days ago
- Toronto Sun
Four Ontario men wanted in $28,000 fake taxi scheme in Calgary
Two of four men from Ontario facing 64 charges by way of warrant related to 18 incidents of taxi fraud that allegedly defrauded 16 victims of more than $28,000. Between July 9, 2024, and July 14, 2024, Photo courtesy Calgary Police Police are looking for four Ontario men believed to have posed as taxi drivers, bilking 16 customers out of more than $28,000 through the use of credit card skimmers. 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 The four men, who face a total of 64 charges, are identified as Martin Hudec Siron, 19, Arvinder Singh, Ibrahim Kald and Matthew Tani, aged 24. Police say the suspects used two methods in the scam. In the first, the perpetrators took on riders like any other licensed taxi, and ferried them to their destinations. In the second, a suspect allegedly approached victims claiming they were struggling to pay a taxi fare that would not accept cash. A fare would total between $7 and $7.50, and the suspect would ask a victim if they'd be willing to accept a $10 bill in exchange for paying with their personal debit or credit card. In both the classic cab scenario and the more complex con, drivers would claim that the tap function on the machine presented was also not functioning, forcing passengers and Good Samaritans alike to insert cards and press PIN codes. 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. Investigators believe that information would then be captured by the suspects on a skimming device, or the card would be swapped out for a fake one entirely. The card would then be used to withdraw cash or purchase pre-paid credit cards, or gift cards. Charges for the four include varying counts of theft of a credit card, and counts of fraud under $5,000. Similar events were found to have occurred in Edmonton, Toronto, and Vancouver. Calgary police specified that the individuals charged were not licensed as taxi drivers in the City of Calgary. However, police say they 'have no way to know if they are licensed in other jurisdictions.' Investigators believe the vehicle was rented, with a model specifically chosen to blend in with other cab services. They say the perpetrators are believed to have 'placed a taxi sign on top, similar to ones you can buy online.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. CPS released a warning regarding scams of this nature in July, 2024, after receiving multiple reports of taxi fraud being conducted by what appeared to be an organized group. The warrant comes alongside a host of other scam warnings by the police. Recently, a Quebec Man was charged for defrauding a Calgary senior of more than $300,000 by convincing her to make deposits to bitcoin ATMs, none of which was able to be recovered. On June 18, police reported that since January they had received more than 30 reports of scammers posing as CPS officers, resulting in losses of more than $43,000. Suspects in the taxi fraud case are believed to have fled back to Ontario, which investigators believe to be where they reside. Photographs of the suspects can be found on the City of Calgary website. Police urge anyone with information about this as well as victims of fraud or identity theft, to call the non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers. Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Tennis MMA Toronto Maple Leafs
Calgary Herald
6 days ago
- Calgary Herald
Four Ontario men wanted in $28,000 fake taxi scheme
Police are looking for four Ontario men believed to have posed as taxi drivers, bilking 16 customers out of more than $28,000 through the use of credit card skimmers. Article content The four men, who face a total of 64 charges, are identified as Martin Hudec Siron, 19, Arvinder Singh, Ibrahim Kald and Matthew Tani, aged 24. Article content Article content Police say the suspects used two methods in the scam. In the first, the perpetrators took on riders like any other licensed taxi, and ferried them to their destinations. In the second, a suspect allegedly approached victims claiming they were struggling to pay a taxi fare that would not accept cash. A fare would total between $7 and $7.50, and the suspect would ask a victim if they'd be willing to accept a $10 bill in exchange for paying with their personal debit or credit card. Article content Article content In both the classic cab scenario and the more complex con, drivers would claim that the tap function on the machine presented was also not functioning, forcing passengers and Good Samaritans alike to insert cards and press PIN codes. Article content Article content Investigators believe that information would then be captured by the suspects on a skimming device, or the card would be swapped out for a fake one entirely. The card would then be used to withdraw cash or purchase pre-paid credit cards, or gift cards. Article content Charges for the four include varying counts of theft of a credit card, and counts of fraud under $5,000. Article content Similar events were found to have occurred in Edmonton, Toronto, and Vancouver. Calgary police specified that the individuals charged were not licensed as taxi drivers in the City of Calgary. However, police say they 'have no way to know if they are licensed in other jurisdictions.' Article content Investigators believe the vehicle was rented, with a model specifically chosen to blend in with other cab services. They say the perpetrators are believed to have 'placed a taxi sign on top, similar to ones you can buy online.' Article content CPS released a warning regarding scams of this nature in July, 2024, after receiving multiple reports of taxi fraud being conducted by what appeared to be an organized group. The warrant comes alongside a host of other scam warnings by the police. Recently, a Quebec Man was charged for defrauding a Calgary senior of more than $300,000 by convincing her to make deposits to bitcoin ATMs, none of which was able to be recovered. Article content Suspects in the taxi fraud case are believed to have fled back to Ontario, which investigators believe to be where they reside. Photographs of the suspects can be found on the City of Calgary website. Article content
