Florida man wanted by Toronto police in criminal harassment investigation

Florida resident Talha Sakrani, 39, is wanted by Toronto police in connection with a criminal harassment investigation. (Toronto Police Service)

A Florida man who police say has been pursuing a relationship with a Toronto resident for years -- despite being asked to stop -- allegedly crossed the border and travelled to their home in an attempt to meet them.

In a news release issued Tuesday, police said that the suspect began messaging the complainant in 2021 to pursue a relationship.

The complainant refused the advances from the outset and in August of last year, they reported “repeated” unwanted communications from the suspect to the police.

It’s unclear where or how the victim and complainant met, police told CTV News Toronto in an email.

Later that month, police said, the suspect crossed the border into Canada. In December, the suspect allegedly messaged the complainant and told them that he was at their Etobicoke apartment block, located near Dundas and Bloor streets.

Then, at some point in the last week, police said the suspect attempted to gain access to the complainant’s building.

The suspect, identified by police as 39 -year-old Talha Sakrani, is believed to still be in Toronto.

“If anyone knows his whereabouts, they are asked to contact police,” a news release read.