A bystander's car was hit by a bullet in and seized by Peel police. He had to pay over $600 to get it back
An employee of a Mississauga nightclub whose car was struck by a bullet and seized by police after a fatal shooting last month said he was “shocked” when he had to pay more than $600 to get the vehicle back.
“Just shocked,” Joseph, who asked that CTV News omit his surname, said. “I live in the suburbs – this kind of thing just hasn’t happened to anyone I know.”
Joseph said he was working at Jungle Nightclub, located on Eglinton Avenue East in Mississauga, on Dec. 31 when a drive-by shooting took the life of a 19-year-old woman.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
“It's very sad,” he said. “That was the first time someone got killed outside of the club.”
As shots rang out, one hit Joseph’s car and hours later, Peel Regional Police told him it would need to be seized as evidence in their investigation.
“The officer told me it should be released within 24 to 48 hours,” he said.
That didn’t turn out to be the case. Despite calling the police station daily, Joseph said he did not hear back from a detective until Jan. 3, four days later, telling him his car could be retrieved and that there might be a “nominal fee.”
When he went to pick up his car, an employee at the towing lot informed him he would need to pay $550, before tax.
Joseph ended up paying for $600 to get his vehicle back after it was seized as part of a Peel police investigation. (Handout)
“The first thing that came to my mind was stress,” Joseph said. “I’m thinking how am I going to pay this?"
He paid the fee and left, but a feeling of unease stayed with him, he said.
“I just thought if anyone else who did nothing wrong had to pay to get their car back, I would think that's not fair,” he said. “Police are meant to protect and serve the citizens where they operate.”
When reached for comment by CTV News Toronto, Peel police said the fee was an “oversight on their part.”
Police can seize civilian vehicles in several instances, including but not limited to license suspensions, traffic offences, and parking violations. In most cases, the registered owner of the vehicle is on the hook for any costs associated with the vehicle and its storage while seized.
However, if a civilian's vehicle is seized as evidence in an investigation into a crime they had no part in, police can cover those costs. In this case, that's what should have happened, Peel police said.
“It has since been rectified and [Joseph] has been contacted and should be receiving a refund on his credit card,” a spokesperson for the service said.
Shortly after, Joseph said he received another phone call from a detective.
“He called me personally, he gave me his phone number, and he said, ‘We are going to make sure that the credit card fee is waived or you're going to get the charge back. We're going to cover the costs. If it's still on your bank statement by mid-next week, give me a call.‘”
While Joseph said he feels reassured hearing that a refund is coming his way, the ordeal pushed him to speak publicly.
“I just wanted people to know what to do if it happens to them.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Airlines' challenge of Canada's passenger protection rules rejected by Supreme Court
The airlines have failed in their challenge of federal passenger protection rules.
Tax rebate: Canadians with low to modest incomes to receive payment on Friday
Canadians who are eligible for a GST/HST tax credit can expect their final payment of the year on Friday.
WestJet ordered to reimburse B.C. passenger for hotel, despite claim bill was 'excessive'
WestJet failed to convince a B.C. tribunal that a woman whose flight was delayed for three days spent an "excessive" amount on a hotel room, and the airline has been ordered to pay her full bill.
A 6-year-old girl was kidnapped in Arkansas in 1995. Almost 30 years later, a suspect was identified
Nearly 30 years after a six-year-old girl disappeared in Western Arkansas, authorities have identified a suspect in her abduction through DNA evidence.
Economic experts call it 'terrible policy,' but most Canadians support expansion of Old Age Security benefits: Nanos survey
Amid new polling indicating most Canadians support boosting Old Age Security benefits by 10 per cent for seniors aged 65 to 74, a former Liberal finance minister and former Bank of Canada governor are warning the government not to pursue the policy change.
Pit bulls in B.C. pet mauling tested positive for meth, cocaine, says city
Three pit bulls involved in a deadly attack on another dog last month in Kamloops, B.C., tested positive for methamphetamine and cocaine, and the city is going to court to have them put down.
Parliament 'ground to a halt' over Conservative allegations of Liberal corruption
Government business has been put on indefinite pause in the House of Commons and the Conservatives say it will stay that way until the Liberals hand over documents related to misspent government dollars.
DoorDash driver who appeared to spit in Ontario man's drink removed from platform
A DoorDash driver who was caught on camera appearing to spit into an Ontario man’s drink has been removed from the platform, the food delivery company has confirmed.
Iran's foreign minister vows harsh retaliation if Israel strikes Iran in response to missile barrage
Iran's foreign minister warned Israel on Friday that if it carries out an attack on Iran, Tehran will retaliate in a harsh way.