Latest news with #YorkRegionPolice
Hamilton Spectator
20-06-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Grandma at the picnic': Source sheds light on Vaughan Lamborghini-theft shooting, after Ford's comments
A York Region Police source has decided to add some context to the incident involving a Vaughan man who shot at a crew of suspected car thieves attempting to steal his white Lamborghini from his driveway. It was five days after the event on June 17 that Premier Doug Ford broached the topic in front of a group of reporters, asking if gathered media had heard about the individual and how he was charged by police following a shooting at his home. 'Did you hear about the guy…?' he began. He went on to suggest that Canadians should have access to a castle law, like the United States, in which residents are able to use force, potentially deadly, to protect themselves against intruders. 'These thugs came up ready to steal his car, they're all in their masks,' he told gathered media. 'I guess he was a hunter or something, he shot up in the air … he should get a medal for standing up.' Well, according to a police source, the premier had some key facts wrong. In reality, the man was former military and shot plenty more than one bullet, emptying his rifle magazine before reloading and firing more volleys, the source said. Ford was further incorrect in suggesting the man aimed his gun in the air. Instead, the source explained, the man fired the shots, possibly reaching up to 20 or more, into the suspect's vehicle in the middle of a densely packed neighbourhood at around 4 a.m. 'He was not trying to hit them — he was trying to scare them away,' the source added. 'He shot up their car, all rounds went into the car they arrived in.' The source sympathizes with the premier and the public and their frustration at the current situation involving crime in the GTA, but added no one should want this sort of vigilante justice in their communities. 'Yes, it's great he defended his property … but it could have hit someone going to work or letting their dog out or could have gone through a window,' the source said. 'You don't want this to be celebrated … or I don't anyways.' The source added that when using firearms, whether rifles or handguns, police are trained to consider what might happen should they miss their target. 'When we're being trained and we miss, even if it's just once, the trainer will say 'grandma at the picnic,'' the source said, noting that it only takes one miss to hit an innocent bystander. The source went on to say the man was clearly on high alert considering he was the victim of an attempted carjacking prior to the events of June 12. The source also revealed that the man can be heard loading and firing his weapon while asking for help on the phone with the 911 dispatcher. In the aftermath of the incident, four individuals, including a 16-year-old, were charged with attempted break-and-enter and attempted theft among others. Two were charged with breach of probation and one remains at large. The 35-year-old male, who rents at the home, has been charged with discharging a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, careless storage of a firearm and unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm. Ford also revealed that men also allegedly tried to steal a vehicle from his Etobicoke home. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Toronto Star
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Premier Ford voices support of man who allegedly shot gun in the air to ward off attempted carjackers
Ontario Premier Doug Ford offered his support to a man facing firearms charges after discharging his gun in a residential area of Vaughan last week to scare off alleged car thieves. . At a press conference on Tuesday morning to break ground on the Eastern Transit Hub, Ford spoke of 'weak kneed judges' and the need for bail reform, and also pointed out the incident that occurred last week, where four men were charged with the attempted theft of a car, attempt break and enter and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000. One of the four was also charged with breach of probation. Police also said a 35-year-old male resident discharged a firearm during the attempted theft. He was located with a firearm and arrested. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'Did you hear about the guy that these thugs came up, you know, ready to steal his car, they are all in their masks and everything. So I guess he was a hunter or something. He shot up in the air. I don't recommend that, by the way. But he gets charged. I got to find out this guy's name and number, and I'm going to hold a fundraiser for lawyer fees for him. He should get a medal for standing up,' said Ford. He went on to suggest that Canada should have stronger laws for people to defend their property, like the U.S. 'It's like down in the U.S., we should have the Castle law. Someone breaks into your house. I know any of these people here, someone breaks in your house, and they're coming after your kids and your spouse, you're going to fight like you've never fought before. You're going to use anything.' The Castle law is a U.S. legal principle that allows individuals to defend their homes, even using deadly force, if necessary. Ontario Premier Doug Ford says masked men tried to steal a vehicle from his home overnight but police thwarted the attempt. Ford told the story after criticizing the bail system and saying criminals are running amok. (June 17, 2025 / The Canadian Press) At the time of the carjacking incident, York Region Police's Constable James Dickson explained why officers had arrested the man. 'A 35-year-old man has been charged for discharging a firearm as well as possession of weapons for dangerous purpose. Now, we cannot stress enough that using a firearm in a residential neighbourhood is incredibly dangerous. It's very fortunate in this case that nobody was hurt, but we always are saying immediately, call 911, don't put yourself in harm's way and prioritize your personal safety.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Dickson went on to discuss defending yourself according to Canadian laws. 'So, defending yourself is entirely based on what's proportional and what's reasonable. In a case like this, it has been determined that a firearm was not the appropriate one. Now, these charges, obviously, we have weighed for discharging the firearm as well as for possession of weapons for a dangerous purpose, but proportionality and reasonability is entirely determined by the courts,' he said. The men accused of attempted carjacking were set to appear in Newmarket court on Tuesday.
Globe and Mail
11-06-2025
- Globe and Mail
Ontario watchdog investigating police-involved shooting in Markham
Ontario's police watchdog says it is investigating a police-involved shooting in Markham, Ont. York Region police say they shot a male who was allegedly attacking a female in Markham early Wednesday morning. Police say they responded to a welfare check call on Buchanan Drive at around 4:40 a.m. They allege that when officers arrived, they found a male who was 'actively attacking' a female. Police say they shot the male, and both people were taken to a trauma centre. Police did not immediately provide further details but said they notified the Special Investigations Unit, which responds when police have been involved in a death or injury.
CTV News
06-06-2025
- CTV News
Shots fired in Markham area for second time in a week, No injuries reported
Shots fired in Markham area for second time in a week, No injuries reported York Region Police are investigating after shots were fired at a Markham home. Five people were inside but uninjured. A nearby home was also targeted last Saturday.
CBC
28-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
SIU clears York Region police after man died following 'medical distress' in holding cell
Social Sharing Ontario's police watchdog says York Region police officers are not at fault after a man died in February after going into "medical distress" in a Richmond Hill holding cell. The man, 33, turned himself in at a police station on an arrest warrant for breach of probation around 3 p.m. on Feb. 11, according to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) report, released Wednesday. Police searched the man and found a small bag that was later suspected to contain crystal methamphetamine, as well as a crack pipe, the report said. Close to midnight, the man was seen on video retrieving what appeared to be "a quantity of drugs from inside his underwear," the report says. He then formed white lines of powder with the substance and snorted them. Around 1 a.m., police contacted paramedics after they noticed the man was shaking after watching him on a video monitor. Officers attempted to speak to the man, who was unable to communicate other than to agree when asked if he suffered from seizures. The man then soon lost vital signs. Police performed CPR and administered a dose of nasal narcan. Paramedics took the man to the hospital. He was pronounced dead around 1:50 a.m. The man's cause of death is not yet known, the report said. Police quickly provided medical care, SIU director says In his decision, SIU Director Joseph Martino said the first concern in determining police liability was understanding how the man was able to bring and consume suspected drugs inside the cell. Martino said the police searches conducted before the man went into the cell "seem to have been conducted in a thorough fashion." As the drugs seem to have been in the man's underwear, he said it was not surprising police failed to find them. Officers did consider conducting a strip search, but that was denied by a sergeant. "Given the circumstances that prevailed – a detainee having turned himself in seemingly good health and unimpaired – I am unable to reasonably conclude that a strip search was necessarily warranted in this case," Martino wrote. Another issue was whether police sufficiently supervised the man when he was in custody. While police did not routinely physically check the man, Martino wrote he was checked via video monitor roughly every 30 minutes while in the cell, "and that none of those checks gave rise for concern." Martino also found officers detected the man's apparent drug consumption "in fairly short order" and quickly provided medical care.
