Occupy Toronto Plans Have Ominous Tone

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Wellesley Consulting Services

Pedestrians are reflected in a glass building as they walk alone a security fence on Front Street in Toronto, Thursday, June 24, 2010, as the security fencing is in place around the Metro Toronto Convention Center for the upcoming G8 and G20 Summits. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Organizers behind a planned Canadian version of the “Occupy Wall Street” protest will meet today at a University of Toronto campus, according to a blog site for Occupy Toronto.

One troubling sign has been a demand from protest organizers that Toronto Police not repeat what many believe were harsh and unnecessary tactics during last year’s G20 protests.

While unprecedented numbers of protesting citizens were detained by police, scenes of destruction played out on city streets that shocked many watching the mayhem unfold on live television. Scenes of burning police cars could be repeated if so-called “Black Bloc” anarchists take to the streets during what promises to be a prolonged downtown rally.

City authorities have suggested that should protestors occupy public space for a lengthy period they may be subject to health and safety inspections. The police have remained tight lipped on their plans, except to say that they have appropriate measures in place.

Similar overtures were made by both protest groups and police officials last year, leading up to the G20.

For downtown business owners and corporate executives, there is cause for alarm. A review of security processes and procedures would be appropriate, according to Wellesley Consulting Services consultants.

Arrest Made in Gallery Theft

Posted on April 21, 2011 by Wellesley Consulting Services

Aaron Sherman, of Toronto (left) was arrested yesterday by Toronto Police in relation to the gallery theft. The unidentified suspect on the right remains outstanding. Images: Toronto Police Service handout.

Toronto Police have made an arrest in connection with the Odon Wagner Gallery burglary two weeks ago, according to a police news release today.

Aaron Sherman, 43, of Toronto, was arrested yesterday and charged with break and enter, mischief, and two counts of failing to comply with probation. Another suspect remains outstanding, and police have not recovered the three missing paintings, alleged to be valued at $73,000.

A January 2007 Toronto Police 53 division community bulletin issued by Staff Inspector Larry Sinclair mentions an Aaron Sherman, then 38, of no fixed address, having been arrested in relation to a remarkably similar crime, a smash-and-grab style burglary at a mid-town Toronto Blockbuster video store that occurred the previous October. The bulletin mentions that the culprit was identified through DNA evidence left at the scene when the suspect suffered a cut from broken glass on entering the premises.

In the art crime community there is often much speculation that art thieves are sophisticated criminals acting on behalf of eccentric, wealthy art collectors. It would appear that in the Odon Wagner Gallery theft, the suspect in the alleged burglary was merely a rounder with an unsophisticated method of stealing property.

Sherman was scheduled to appear in College Park court today for a bail hearing. The allegations have not been proven in court.

Hundreds of Charges in Recent GTA Frauds

Posted on March 1, 2011 by Wellesley Consulting Services

The Canadian Press reported today that eight east GTA residents are charged with about 100 charges in relation to an ATM fraud investigation.

(Photo: Toronto Police Service website)

Police arrested individuals in Oshawa, Markham, Pickering and Toronto, and laid charges for fraud, identity theft, counterfeit credit cards, and organized-crime related offences. A full list of names and charges has not yet been released, and police say the investigation is continuing.

This latest multiple-victim fraud comes on the heels of another major Toronto-area fraud investigation involving a 30-year-old man who allegedly targeted seniors in a snow-removal scam.

Initially, Elman Iakhiiaev (pictured) was charged with only a handful of counts, but after Toronto Police announced the charges, further victims came forward. He is charged with over 100 counts of fraud for soliciting payments in advance from Toronto residents to remove snow from their properties, but he allegedly never returned to do the work.

And now, police also allege he entered into a contract with a North York restaurant to provide menus and signs, but after receiving a deposit he failed to do any work in that case as well.

Crossbow Killing in Library, 1 Arrested

Posted on December 3, 2010 by Wellesley Consulting Services

Toronto Police responded to a shooting call yesterday at an east-end Toronto library, and arrested a 24 year-old man.

Media are reporting that a man was shot with a crossbow inside the Main Street Library, near Gerrard Street, after an interaction with another man. Witnesses told the media the second man allegedly fled into a U-Haul truck shortly afterwards.

Crossbows, other than pistol-style ones, are an uncontrolled weapon under Canadian law. When the original bill C-68 amended the Criminal Code and introduced the Firearms Act, a possession and acquisition licence was necessary to acquire a crossbow, but not required to own one. The law has since been amended, and criminal use of crossbows remains rare.

However, last week near Boston, a teen was arrested after allegedly firing a crossbow at a car that shattered a window. Recently, in the UK, a crossbow was believed to have been used in one of three killings of prostitutes near Bradford.

CCTV to Blanket Toronto for G20

Posted on May 17, 2010 by Wellesley Consulting Services

Toronto Police will install more cameras in preparation for the June G20 Summit. (Toronto Police Service) Toronto Police will expand their CCTV program during the G20 summit that will be held in that city this June, according to a service news release.

Although CCTV has been in use in Toronto since 2007, when it was first piloted as a tool to detect and reduce crime in selected neighbourhoods, the G20 Summit security measures will add as many as 77 more cameras, according to media reports.

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