Parents in The Junction disturbed after arrest of man with disturbing criminal history
Posted March 10, 2025 5:14 pm.
Last Updated March 17, 2025 12:28 pm.
Three suspicious incidents involving children in The Junction neighbourhood and the arrest of a 34-year-old man with a disturbing criminal history have parents in the area on edge.
Laura, a mother of two in the west end of Toronto, said a recent email from her child’s school was frightening and incomplete.
“We were advised of an incident, and the school sent us a link of safety rules.”
She tells CityNews it wasn’t until she found a news release about the arrest of Lucas Petrini from the Toronto Police Service that she discovered the details.
“How is it this wasn’t blasted to everyone, and how is it we don’t know about it until there is an arrest?”
Petrini, 34, was arrested last Tuesday after allegedly approaching several children in the city’s west end.
Investigators say the incidents occurred between Feb. 13 and March 3, 2025, in the Annette Street, Pacific Avenue, Humberside Avenue and High Park areas.
Petrini was charged with 10 counts of failing to comply with a long-term supervision order and two counts of assault.
Petrini had also been previously convicted of kidnapping and repeatedly sexually assaulting a nine-year-old boy at knifepoint in Brampton. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2010 for the 2008 attack and was released in 2018 with a 10-year long-term supervision order.
34-year-old expected to have a court appearance on Wednesday
Concerned about Petrini’s past and the current allegations, the parent council at Keele Street Public School issued a statement, reading in part, “We are gravely concerned about the possibility of his imminent release and the ongoing danger he poses to children.”
A letter addressed to Parkdale-High Park City Councillor Gord Perks, MPP Bhutila Karpoche, MP Arif Virani and Ontario Premier Doug Ford from the parent council advised them to take action.
“We urge you to take immediate and decisive action to ensure Mr. Petrini is not released back into the community … we cannot afford to take risks when it comes to the safety of our children,” the letter reads in part.
Laura, whose children attend a nearby public school, says many parents are demoralized.
“The parents I’ve spoken with are frustrated there was no warning, and our kids were walking the streets like nothing was happening.”
With files from Michael Talbot of CityNews
