A man identified as a suspect in the death of a Toronto gas station attendant has been arrested in Montreal.
Police said Max Edwin Tutiven was arrested Thursday morning at a home in Montreal's Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district.
The arrest came two days after Toronto police announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to Tutiven's arrest.
Tutiven was located thanks to a tip from a member of the public, who had seen the news coverage of the reward, Toronto Police Det. Sgt. Stacy Gallant told CTV Toronto's Tamara Cherry.
Gallant said police will travel to Montreal to pick up Tutiven following the arrest. He faces a second-degree murder charge in connection with the death of Jayesh Prajapati, 44, who was killed Sept. 15, 2012.
Prajapati was fatally struck by a vehicle at a Shell gas station located at the intersection of Marlee and Roselawn Avenues, west of Allen Road. Prajapati was trying to stop a driver from leaving the gas station without paying a $112 bill.
Shortly after the incident, police identified the suspect as Tutiven, then 39. Police issued photos and security camera footage in the days following Prajapati's death, but Tutiven remained at large for three years.
Officers announced the reward on Tuesday, hoping the financial incentive would convince someone to come forward. In addition to the 2012 case, police said Tutiven was also wanted on other charges from Toronto and Quebec police.
Gallant said there were approximately five other warrants for Tutiven, some connected with other gas-and-dash incidents.
Prajapati's case inspired Bill 12, also known as "Jayesh's Law," requiring customers to pre-pay at the pumps, and toughening rules against employers who expect employees to pay for stolen gas. The private members' bill, which was introduced by Eglinton-Lawrence MPP Mike Colle, was stalled in October, 2012, when then-premier Dalton McGuinty suspended the legislature.
