The City of Toronto’s Victoria Day fireworks display at Ashbridges Bay Park will take place this evening beginning at 10 p.m. despite last night’s chaos at Woodbine Beach Park and Ashbridges Bay.
On Sunday, May 22, over the course of several hours, there were multiple incidents including a shooting, a stabbing, and two reported robberies at gunpoint, said Toronto Police Duty Inspector Jeff Bassingthwaite who provided a statement to media this afternoon at Toronto Police Service (TPS) headquarters.
TPS reported on Twitter around 10 p.m. that officers had located a man at Woodbine Beach Park with a gunshot wound who was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The same Twitter account reported at 12:18 a.m. Monday morning that a man walked into a hospital with a gunshot wound who was also confirmed “shot earlier at Woodbine Beach Park,” possibly during the same incident. Shortly after 11 p.m., police reported a stabbing in which another man was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Approximately 17 arrests were made, and that number is subject to change with expected charges to be added including for assaulting a police officer, said Bassingthwaite. A news release will be issued later today on the criminal charges.
“We allege that some individuals were intentionally directing fireworks at people, including at police officers,” he said.
Numerous injuries were reported, including of seven police officers. Some of the officers’ injuries are serious in nature and include:
- One officer breaking a leg while responding to the shooting
- Two officers receiving burns and ear injuries when fireworks were thrown and exploded near them
- Another officer was struck directly in the face by a firework and sustained serious abrasions to his face, ears, and eyes
This afternoon Beach Metro Community News asked police who were cordoning off the east parking lot at the Ashbridges Bay parking lot if a police command centre would be set up tonight in the area, but details were not known at that time.
City bylaws prohibit possession of fireworks on beaches and parks and any individual found in possession of them is subject to charges and search and seizure by the appropriate law enforcement including city bylaw officers or Toronto Police,
Anyone who engages in activity that risks public safety, can expect to be arrested, said Bassingthwaite.
A number of police resources will be in the area tonight. Mayor John Tory’s posted a statement on Twitter shortly after the TPS media event calling the incidents “hooliganism.” Tory said that Chief Ramer has assured him that Toronto Police “will have a large and visible dedicated policing operation in place for the planned Victoria Day fireworks this evening.”
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact police at 416-808-5500, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com
Did you enjoy this article? Become a Beach Metro Community News Supporter today! For 50 years, we have worked hard to be the eyes and ears in your community, inform you of upcoming events, and let you know what and who is making a difference. We cover the big stories as well as the little things that often matter the most. CLICK HERE to support your Beach Metro Community News!
