Suspect arrested after man stabbed in neck in ‘unprovoked attack’ at St. George station

Toronto police say they have arrested a suspect after a man was stabbed in an “unprovoked attack” at St. George Station on Tuesday night.

Officers were called to the TTC subway station at 11:30 p.m. for reports that someone had been stabbed.

Police say a 30-year-old man was sitting on the subway platform talking to someone else when he was stabbed in the neck by another man. Police believe the attack was unprovoked.

The suspect fled the station and was last seen on Bedford Road. The victim was transported to a hospital with serious injuries.

“Our thoughts are with the victim of this awful and unprovoked attack for a full recovery,” the TTC said in a statement, through spokesperson Stuart Green. 

On Wednesday, police arrested 23-year-old Danta Easterbrook of Toronto. He has been charged with one count of assault with a weapon and is expected to appear in court on Thursday.

The TTC says it’s upped security at various stations, with “40 Special Constables strategically patrolling the system.”

“We are also in the process of hiring an additional 56 special constables that were approved in 2021,” the TTC added. “In the wake of these recent incidents, we are focusing resources in and around the subway system to both give customers an added sense of safety and security as well as to respond in the unlikely event of a safety incident.”

Photo of the alleged suspect, courtesy: Toronto Police

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String of recent violent incidents at TTC stations

The incident follows two other violent attacks at TTC stations in the last eight days.

A woman was pushed onto the subway tracks at Bloor-Yonge station on Sunday night, suffering a broken rib and narrowly escaped getting struck by a train.

Toronto police are searching for another suspect who allegedly robbed a victim after putting them in a chokehold and knocking them unconscious at Pioneer Village station last week.

Mayor John Tory was asked if enough is being done to protect transit riders in an appearance on Breakfast Television on Wednesday morning.

“I think the bottom line is there is a lot being done,” said Tory. “You’ll also hear on the other side of this that sometimes when we have the special constables on the TTC people feel overpoliced.”

“We have to strike that balance but always opt in favour of public safety.”

The incident where the woman was pushed renewed calls from some groups for better subway safety, including barriers being installed at the edge of all platforms.

“That’s a debate that has been going on for decades,” said Tory. “Do you spend a billion and a half dollars putting those doors in?”

“This is a constant topic of concern, including the safety of our TTC operators.”