Man on List of ‘Canada’s Most Wanted’ Arrested, Toronto Police Say

A logo at the Toronto Police Services headquarters, in Toronto, on Aug. 9, 2019. (The Canadian Press/Christopher Katsarov)

Toronto police say they have arrested a man who is on the list of “Canada’s most wanted.”

Emmanuel Rawson, 22, was arrested by Toronto Police on April 29 and is facing seven charges, including two counts of robbery with a firearm, two counts of forcible confinement, and one count each of disguise with intent, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, and possession of property obtained by crime.

The Toronto Police Service said in a May 2 news release that Rawson’s arrest is part of a million-dollar retail robbery investigation dubbed Project Heavy Bag. 

The robbery took place on April 1 last year at a retail location near the Toronto Pearson International Airport between Carlingview Drive and Dixon Road. 

In a security video provided by police, two men with face coverings are seen forcing an employee at gunpoint to give them access to the location. Upon entry, the suspects assault a second victim, and force them to open the safes. The victims were ordered to the ground, while the two men loaded a garbage bag with over one million dollars in cash. The suspects then fled the scene in a waiting vehicle. 

The police said a significant development in their investigation came roughly six weeks later. 

On May 17, 2021, an attempted home invasion took place in the Kipling Avenue and Steeles Avenue area when armed suspects tried to gain access to a unit. The suspects failed in their attempt and fled before the police arrived. 

“A sum of money, identified to have been obtained during the robbery on April 1, 2021, was found within the unit,” police said. 

“As a result of the investigation, members of the Toronto Police Hold Up Squad were able to identify several suspects involved in the robbery.” 

As the investigation proceeded, between Sept. 9, 2021 and Sept. 10, 2021, police executed four search warrants at various addresses and on two vehicles with the assistance of the Emergency Task Force, Major Crime Units, and Forensic Identification Services. 

As a result, the police seized clothing, seven handguns, high-capacity firearm magazines, numerous rounds of ammunition, body armour, a large quantity of cocaine and cash. 

Toronto Police previously announced seven arrests in relation to this investigation, including three men and four women. Rawson, who is one of the suspects, remained outstanding. 

As part of a Canada-wide initiative, the Bolo Program issued a Top 25 list of Canada’s most wanted fugitives on April 26 and the 22-year-old Toronto resident was listed Number 23. 

Bolo, meaning “be on the lookout,” is a program launched in 2018 that allows Canadians to support police searches for fugitives through anonymous information sharing. 

Rawson is the second person on the “Canada’s most wanted” list to be arrested since it was released by Bolo last week. 

Abilaziz Mohamed, who was in the Number One spot on the list, was arrested just hours after the program was launched. 

An “unprecedented” reward of up to $250,000 was offered for information leading to the arrest of Mohamed, who is charged with first-degree murder as the result of an Oct. 13, 2021 shooting incident that resulted in the death of 43-year-old Craig MacDonald.