Police make more arrests, others wanted in ‘violent’ clashes at homeless encampment in July
Posted September 16, 2021 1:26 pm.
Last Updated September 16, 2021 8:27 pm.
Toronto Police say additional arrests have been made, and eight people are wanted after violent clashes ensued with officers at a homeless encampment in July.
Upwards of 25 people were arrested at Lamport Park Stadium on July 21 as officers attempted to evict people from encampments the city deemed unsafe.
Video from the scene showed police scuffling with a line of apparent protesters who set up makeshift barricades around the encampment. Police were seen tossing some of the protesters to the ground. A woman could be heard screaming as police dragged her from a group and handcuffed her on the ground.
There were 19 people charged under the Trespass to Property Act, while six others faced criminal charges.
In an update on Thursday, investigators said they’re attempting to identify multiple people wanted for criminal offences in connection with the protests.
Officers released images of eight people who they say are wanted for a variety of offences, including possessing a dangerous weapon, assault with a weapon, assault and obstruction “after crowds became hostile.”
“Crowds of protesters gathered at the closed park to interfere with the City’s efforts and to confront police. Repeated efforts were made to engage with people and inform them that the city had previously served a Trespass to Property notice, and they were required to leave,” Toronto Police said in a news release.
RELATED: Tory accuses protesters of ‘obstructing, harassing’ city staff at homeless encampments
“These efforts were largely ignored and the crowds became confrontational and hostile. As a last resort, officers carried out enforcement.”
Investigators allege that multiple people threw objects at responding officers and assaulted them. Following the protests at Lamport Park Stadium, officers say a large crowd gathered outside 14 Division and “became hostile, and multiple people threw objects, including soup cans, at officers.”
They claim several people assaulted officers outside the precinct and “obstructed them.”
Police said they arrested and identified three people on Thursday, including 38-year-old Skylar Lee Williams of Brantford. Williams will be charged with failing to comply with recognizance.
A man and a woman were arrested and face multiple charges, including assault with a weapon and a dangerous weapons charge.
Officers released multiple photos of suspects they believe to be connected to the incident and urged them to turn themselves in.
“The Toronto Police Service respects everyone’s right to peacefully protest. However, when the behaviour of some involves physical violence and criminal offences, officers will actively pursue those involved,” Toronto Police said.
“As the Service has stated before, investigations continue after the events, when warranted, and charges can be laid at a later date.”
In May, a violent confrontation erupted as the city dismantled another homeless encampment at the stadium. Three police officers suffered minor injuries and one man was charged with assaulting an officer.
Encampments have popped up throughout the pandemic as more shelter users take to the streets instead, citing safety concerns and COVID-19 outbreaks in shelters.
The city maintains the shelter system is safe and has said it will eventually clear all of the homeless encampments, which it says are unsafe. City council also recently passed a motion to end encampments.
Toronto homeless, their supporters vow to fight charges in encampment clearings
Toronto should stop evicting homeless encampments and drop trespass charges against people who live in tents, the city’s homeless community and their supporters demanded Thursday.
They said the city should find a long-term solution to homelessness, suggesting all three levels of government work together to create not-for-profit homes that will help ease the housing crisis.
“Stop criminalizing the homeless,” said Jennifer Jewell, who was an encampment resident for four months before the city offered her temporary shelter at a hotel.
Jewell, who uses a wheelchair, said she was assaulted and detained by officers during the clearing of an encampment at Lamport Stadium in July.
“I’ve been on [the] waiting list for wheelchair accessible housing for 15 years,” she said at a news conference outside Mayor John Tory’s downtown condominium.
Four officers stood behind barricades protecting the entrance to the condo, with more officers on police horses standing a block away.
Skyler Williams, an Indigenous man who is the spokesman for the land reclamation camp known as 1492 Land Back Lane at a development site in Caledonia, Ont., said he came out to show his support for the homeless community.
He said about 40 per cent of encampment residents are Indigenous.
“These are people who have witnessed more trauma than most,” he said.
“Let me be very clear to John Tory, whenever our people call out for help, whether in the bush or downtown, we’ll be there to support them no matter what because these are our people.”
Williams, a member of the Six Nations of the Grand River, faces two charges related to the occupation of McKenzie Meadows, a proposed housing development.
Shortly after speaking at Thursday’s news conference, he was arrested for failure to comply with recognizance. That prompted the crowd to move their protest to a nearby police station where Williams was being held.
Members of the homeless community and their supporters have said the police operations to clear the encampments left some with broken bones, concussions and cuts.
Police have said they were supporting city staff and carried out “enforcement” as a last resort.
Early in the pandemic, hundreds fled Toronto’s homeless shelters for fear of contracting COVID-19, setting up tents in parks throughout the city.
Sima Atri, a lawyer representing some of those facing charges, said many will have their first appearance in court on Friday.
Jack, who lives in an encampment at Moss Park and did not want to give his last name due to fears of the police, said he has lived in a tent for a year.
He was arrested for trespassing at one of the encampment clearing operations, a charge he intends to fight.
Jack said he wants a home, not a spot in one of the city shelters. Last year, he said, he was not prepared for the extremely cold winter.
“I was so cold I had to ride streetcars three hours a day to warm myself up,” he said. “I almost died, I just want some help, a place with walls and a roof, but there’s nothing available.”
Recent data obtained by The Canadian Press shows a significant rise in violent incidents in Toronto’s shelter system over the last five years.
The city said nearly 6,333 people who are experiencing homelessness were moved from the shelter system into permanent housing from April 2020 to July 2021, and more than 1,858 people staying in encampments have been referred to safe inside spaces.
A spokeswoman for the mayor questioned the choice of location for Thursday’s protest.
“I have no idea why anyone would organize a protest outside the mayor’s private home on a weekday while he is working at city hall – a public place where people can and do come and protest,” said Lawvin Hadisi.
With files from Liam Casey of The Canadian Press
