Ontario woman asks driver for cigarette in North York, carjacks him at gunpoint: police
Toronto police have laid charges against an Ontario woman after her request for a cigarette turned into an alleged armed carjacking.
It happened on Oct. 17 in North York near Wilson Avenue and Ridge Road, police said in a news release issued Friday.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
At that time, police said, a man was driving his vehicle in the area when he was flagged down by a woman who asked him for a cigarette.
Police said the woman got into the vehicle and the man drove to a parking lot. The man then got out of his vehicle and when he returned he saw the woman sitting in the driver’s seat allegedly holding a knife.
When the man unsuccessfully tried to get the woman out of his vehicle, she brandished a handgun, police said.
The man then backed away and the woman was able to flee the area in the vehicle.
Investigators were able to identify the woman and after efforts to locate her were unsuccessful, a warrant was issued for her arrest, police said.
On Thursday, and with the assistance of the Chatham-Kent Police Service, Gimena Ayala, 24, of Barrie, was located and taken into custody.
She’s charged with robbery with firearm, robbery with offensive weapon, and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
Ayala was scheduled to appear in a Toronto courtroom earlier today.
Police said they were able to recover the stolen vehicle.
Police are asking anyone with information related to then investigation to contact them or Crime Stoppers.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Trudeau promises $1B in loans for child-care providers to expand care centres
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Spring allergy season has begun. Where is it worse in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
N.B. man wins $64 million from Lotto 6/49
A New Brunswicker will go to bed Thursday night much richer than he was Wednesday after collecting on a winning lottery ticket he let sit on his bedroom dresser for nearly a year.
'Nonsense:' Doug Ford slams lawsuits filed by Ontario school boards against social media platforms
Premier Doug Ford says that lawsuits launched by four Ontario school boards against a trio of social media platforms are “nonsense” and risk becoming a distraction to the work that really matters.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.