Latest news with #JoeMatthews
CBC
9 hours ago
- CBC
20 arrested in connection to criminal activity in towing industry: Toronto police
Police have arrested 20 people they say are part of the upper ranks of those planning and organizing violent acts in Toronto's towing industry. Investigators released details Wednesday of an ongoing wiretap investigation into a criminal organization they say is called the Union, which is allegedly behind a significant number of arsons, shootings and other acts of violence. The accused range from 17 to 53 years old and face more than 100 charges in total. Toronto police say they partnered with police in Durham, York and the OPP to arrest the accused, who are from several cities, including Bradford, Oshawa, Richmond Hill, Toronto, and Markham. Towing-related violence is a significant concern for police in Toronto, who say there have been 63 shooting and firearm discharge incidents in 2024 related to tow-truck disputes, accounting for almost 13 per cent of all such incidents. The arrests announced Wednesday are significant, Toronto police chief Supt. Joe Matthews said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon. "It's quite telling that none of them have criminal records or are before the courts, because they are the higher level," Matthews said. The announcement comes two days after Peel police said they arrested 18 people and seized more than $4.2 million in assets after dismantling an alleged Brampton-based organized criminal network linked to the towing industry. Matthews told reporters Wednesday that a publication ban prevented him from speaking to any possible connections between the two cases. "Extreme acts of violence were prevented by this investigation," he said. The accused are due to appear in court through June and July.
CTV News
10 hours ago
- CTV News
‘The Union': 20 arrests, 111 charges laid in GTA tow truck crackdown
An armoured vehicle and some firearms seized as part of a Toronto police investigation into violence in the tow truck industry are shown. (Toronto Police Service) Toronto police say they arrested 20 people and laid more than 100 criminal charges following a months-long probe into a criminal network known as 'The Union' that allegedly used violence in an attempt to control the towing industry across the Greater Toronto Area. Police say that a multi-jurisdictional investigation dubbed 'Project Yankee' first began in October, 2024 in the wake of a series of violent incidents linked to the industry and concluded last week with the execution of 14 search warrants and the arrest of nine of the suspects. Police say that investigators believe the group is responsible for numerous acts of violence 'intended to gain control on the towing industry,' particularly in Scarborough and parts of Durham Region. The investigation, police say, subsequently led to a wiretapping probe focused on members of 'The Union.' 'The information we have is that we are at the upper echelon with the group that was organizing and hiring the acts of violence and it is quite telling that none of them have criminal records or were before the courts because they are the higher level,' Chief Supt. Joe Matthews said during a news conference at police headquarters. TPS Toronto police Chief Supt. Joe Matthews speaks to reporters at a press conference on Wednesday June 18, 2025 (CP24 photo). Two firearms and four vehicles were seized as part of the police investigation, including three Cadillacs that were 'armour plated.' Matthews said that the seizure of armoured vehicle is 'extremely uncommon' and 'shows the level of sophistication' of the group. At the press conference, Matthews also shared video footage with reporters showing two alleged arsons: one in Toronto involving a Molotov cocktail, and another in Whitby, Ont., where a vehicle was torched. Both incidents happened in March and February and were described as deliberate acts of intimidation targeting individuals in the towing sector. 'We are extremely confident that these arrests will have an impact on the violence in our city,' Matthews said. The Project Yankee announcement comes just two days after Peel police revealed the results of a separate investigation that resulted in $4.2 million in seized assets, including 18 tow trucks, allegedly tied to organized crime. Earlier this year, Toronto police also released surveillance video connected to a separate wave of arrests related to tow truck-linked shootings. Toronto police connect Piper Arms incident to string of other shootings, tow truck turf war Toronto police connect Piper Arms incident to string of other shootings, tow truck turf war Despite the scope of the violence, Demkiw said overall firearm discharges in Toronto are down 44 per cent so far in 2025 compared to the same time last year. A full list of charges and the names of those accused is available online.
CTV News
10 hours ago
- CTV News
‘The Union': 20 arrests, over 100 charges laid in GTA tow truck crackdown
An armoured vehicle and some firearms seized as part of a Toronto police investigation into violence in the tow truck industry are shown. (Toronto Police Service) Toronto police say 20 people have been arrested and more than 100 criminal charges laid following a months-long probe into a criminal network known as 'The Union' that allegedly used violence in an attempt to control the towing industry across the Greater Toronto Area. Police say that a multi-jurisdictional investigation dubbed 'Project Yankee' first began in October, 2024 in the wake of a series of violent incidents linked to the industry and concluded last week with the execution of 14 search warrants and the arrest of nine of the suspects. Police say that investigators believe the group is responsible for numerous acts of violence 'intended to gain control on the towing industry,' particularly in Scarborough and parts of Durham Region. The investigation, police say, subsequently led to a wiretapping probe focused on members of 'The Union.' 'The information we have is that we are at the upper echelon with the group that was organizing and hiring the acts of violence and it is quite telling that none of them have criminal records or were before the courts because they are the higher level,' Chief Supt. Joe Matthews said during a news conference at police headquarters. TPS Toronto police Chief Supt. Joe Matthews speaks to reporters at a press conference on Wednesday June 18, 2025 (CP24 photo). Two firearms and four vehicles were seized as part of the police investigation, including three Cadillacs that were 'armour plated.' Matthews said that the seizure of armoured vehicle is 'extremely uncommon' and 'shows the level of sophistication' of the group. At the press conference, Matthews also shared video footage with reporters showing two alleged arsons: one in Toronto involving a Molotov cocktail, and another in Whitby, Ont., where a vehicle was torched. Both incidents were described as deliberate acts of intimidation targeting individuals in the towing sector. 'We are extremely confident that these arrests will have an impact on the violence in our city,' Matthews said. The Project Yankee announcement comes just two days after Peel police revealed the results of a separate investigation that resulted in $4.2 million in seized assets, including 18 tow trucks, allegedly tied to organized crime. Earlier this year, Toronto police also released surveillance video connected to a separate wave of arrests related to tow truck-linked shootings. Despite the scope of the violence, Demkiw said overall firearm discharges in Toronto are down 44 per cent so far in 2025 compared to the same time last year.
