Man, 35, charged after suspicious incidents involving children at Earlscourt Park
Posted May 31, 2025 8:11 am.
Last Updated May 31, 2025 11:15 pm.
Police have arrested a man in connection with several disturbing incidents involving children at Earlscourt Park on Friday afternoon.
The Toronto Police Service (TPS) says an elementary school soccer tournament was taking place at the park located in the St. Clair Avenue and Caledonia Road area when a man approached a child and picked them up, and placed them on his shoulders.
The child’s mother confronted the man, and he put the child down.
The man was then seen filming children on his phone and asking children for their names, ages, phone numbers and addresses.
He was later seen standing near the playground and committing an indecent act.
According to investigators, the man then approached another child and grabbed them by the arm and asked the child to come with him. The child managed to break off and ran away. The man then fled the area in an unknown direction.
On Saturday, TPS identified the suspect as 35-year-old Leandro De Souza Barbosa of Toronto. He was arrested and charged with two counts of assault and a single count of committing an indecent act.
He is scheduled to appear in court on Sunday, June 1, 2025.
Investigators have released Barbosa’s photo and are concerned there may be more victims.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
