Toronto Police Arrest 10 Young People in Connection With 26 Armed Robberies

A Toronto police vehicle is shown parked on Yonge Street in downtown Toronto on Jan. 3, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Doug Ives)

Toronto Police Service (TPS) has arrested 10 individuals, including six teenagers, in relation to a series of armed robberies at dozens of pharmacies.

The arrests are the result of an investigation dubbed Project Mayhem, which has led to 60 charges laid in relation to 26 armed robberies that took place across the Greater Toronto Area between Dec. 8, 2022, and Feb. 10, 2023, TPS said in a statement on Feb. 15.

Among the ten arrests, six were youth under the age of 18 years old, including two youths who were only 14 years of age.

“I do want to reiterate the concern that the Toronto Police Service has, not only about the sheer number of pharmacy robberies that are taking place, but also the young ages of those who are committing them,” Harris said in a Feb. 15 press conference.

Harris noted in 2022 there was a record number of 124 pharmacy robberies in Toronto, with 69 percent of those arrested in relation to the crimes being young persons.

In less than two months there have already been 45 pharmacy robberies in 2023, he said, compared to 11 at this time last year. Sixty-seven percent of those arrested have been young persons.

When asked what motivated the youths to commit such crimes, Harris said there’s “a clear demand for prescription narcotics” and that they are “lured by the quick money that they can make by returning or selling these prescription narcotics on the street.”

“Intelligence suggests that we’re talking upwards of $60 per pill can be made in some areas,” he said.

TPS alleged in the statement that the incidents involved “groups of males, travelling in stolen vehicles, [who] committed a series of pharmacy robberies.”

Police described the incidents as “takeover-style robberies,” in which several males would rush into the pharmacy and make demands for both narcotics and cash in some incidents. Some suspects allegedly used a handgun, while others used a knife or physical violence to control any shoppers or employees inside the stores. After obtaining cash and narcotics, the suspects would then flee in a waiting vehicle.

TPS said its Hold Up Squad commenced a collaborative multi-jurisdictional investigation with the York Region Hold Up Squad, the Peel Region Central Robbery Bureau, and the Halton Region Robbery Unit. The multiple arrests were conducted on four different dates, the police said.

Arrests

TPS said the investigation led to multiple arrests made on four separate dates.

On Jan. 24, 2023, shortly after a robbery, officers identified a stolen vehicle with two males inside. The officers conducted a vehicle stop and took them into custody. A knife and a number of stolen narcotics were seized.

A 15-year-old Toronto boy was arrested and is facing over 30 charges, including six counts of robbery with an offensive weapon, two counts of robbery, eight counts of disguise with intent, two counts each of possessing property obtained by crime and possessing proceeds of crime, twelve counts of failing to comply with a release order, and possessing a weapon dangerous to the public.

Another 14-year-old Toronto boy was also arrested and is also facing dozens of charges. The two boys appeared for a bail hearing on Jan. 25, at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre.

Following a pharmacy robbery on Jan. 30, 2023, TPS officers from the 23 division identified a suspected stolen vehicle with three males inside. The officers conducted a high-risk vehicle stop and took them into custody. At the time of the arrests, officers recovered two replica handguns and a number of stolen narcotics, among other items of evidentiary value.

The three men arrested are Nathan Kelly, 20, Terrance Timm, 19, and Armani Brown, 18.

All three of the men are charged with robbery-related crimes, including robbery with an offensive weapon and robbery with a firearm. They’re also facing charges of disguise with intent and possession of property obtained by crime, among others.

Kelly appeared in court for a bail hearing on Jan. 31, at the Toronto West Court, while the two others attended a bail hearing on Jan. 25, 2023, at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre.

Police said they further identified three additional underage male suspects through their continued investigation into the series of robberies. On Feb. 9, 2023, members of the Hold Up Squad executed three search warrants in connection with the investigation. During the searches, the three males were located and placed under arrest.

The suspects, aged 17, 16, and 14, each face multiple robbery-related charges. The three attended a bail hearing on Feb. 9 at the Toronto West Courts.

Seven pharmacy robberies that took place on Feb. 10 across the Halton Region and Toronto led to the arrest and charges of two males: Jahshaide Clarke, 20, and a 17-year-old boy. Police said they arrested the boys at a pharmacy, seizing a loaded handgun at the time.

Clarke, of Mississauga, was charged with eleven counts of robbery, eleven counts of disguise with intent, use of a firearm during the commission of an indictable offence, possession of property obtained by crime, and eleven counts of failure to comply with release order. He attended a bail hearing on Feb. 11, at the Old City Hall Court.

The 17-year-old Mississauga boy was charged with ten counts of robbery, ten counts of disguise with intent, and carrying a concealed weapon, among others. He also appeared for a bail hearing on Feb. 11, 2023, at the Old City Hall Court.