Toronto Police Seek Suspect Who Put Transit Passenger on Chokehold in Random Attack

Police cars surround a TTC streetcar on Spadina Ave. in Toronto on Jan. 24, 2023, after a stabbing incident. (The Canadian Press/Arlyn McAdorey)

The Toronto Police Service (TPS) is asking for the public’s help in identifying a man who allegedly attacked a passenger on a bus and put him in a chokehold without provocation.

The police received a call on June 2, at roughly 7:40 a.m., in the area of Kennedy Road and Sheppard Avenue East. According to a June 4 TPS news release, the victim was on an eastbound Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) bus standing by the front doors.

Police say the suspect was sitting by the back exit doors, but as the bus came to a stop at Kennedy Road, the suspect attacked the victim, putting him in a chokehold and causing injuries. The attack was unprovoked, according to TPS.

The suspect exited the bus and fled south on Kennedy Road on foot. Police say the suspect is wanted for aggravated assault and is described as 30 to 40 years old, with a black beard. He was wearing a white tank top, khaki cargo shorts, and black shoes.

Toronto police are searching for a suspect alleged to have placed a transit rider in a chokehold, in an unprovoked attack, on June 2, 2023. (Toronto Police Service Handout)

Police have released a photo of the suspect and are asking the public to contact them with any information, at 416-808-4200, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

Public safety has been a key topic in the election for Toronto’s new mayor, set to take place on June 26. A number of mayoral candidates have made pledges to put more police and transit officers on the TTC after a string of random and violent attacks in the last year.

According to data from the TTC, there were 111 offences against passengers in February, down slightly from 136 in January.

In late January, police announced that more than 80 officers would work overtime shifts at various TTC locations following a series of violent incidents on the system, including stabbings, BB gun shootings, and an alleged swarming. The transit commission and city also said it would add 50 contract security guards and 20 outreach workers as an interim response.

In April, police said they have since ended the additional patrols but that on-duty officers were patrolling the TTC as part of regular proactive patrols.

Teenage Boys Charged in Stabbing Incident

The violence has continued, however, with the TPS announcing on June 3 that they had made a number of arrests and laid charges in an unrelated aggravated assault investigation, this one at Kennedy Subway Station. This assault involved a weapon and took place on June 2, at approximately 8:15 p.m., after police received reports of a stabbing.

According to the TPS, there was an altercation between six individuals on the south platform of the TTC bus bay. During the incident, a victim sustained two stab wounds and was transported to hospital in life-threatening condition. All suspects fled the scene.

Later that evening, police said the victim’s condition had stabilized and that a knife was also recovered.

In an update on the morning of June 3, the TPS said police have made five arrests and all of the suspects are young teenage boys.

Police said they have charged two 14-year-old boys, a 12-year old boy, a 13-year-old boy, and a 15-year-old boy, each with the same four charges: aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon, and disguise with intent.

The teenagers were scheduled to be in court on June 3 at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.