Toronto police make more arrests following rash of violent carjackings
Police have arrested two suspects and issued a warrant for two others as they continue to investigate a dramatic spike in carjackings in Toronto, with 182 incidents so far this year.
Toronto police made the announcement on Tuesday afternoon as they provided an update on their investigations into a rash of violent carjackings happening across the city.
- Download our app to get local alerts to your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Police said there have been 182 carjackings so far this year compared to the 102 carjackings in 2021.
The latest arrests pertain to a number of carjackings which took place in August and September.
“Also today, 56 vehicles that have been stolen in these carjackings have been recovered. Many of these investigations are active and ongoing and we're working with police services across every jurisdiction to solve these crimes in a timely fashion,” Insp. Rich Harris from the Hold Up Squad said at the news conference at Toronto Police Headquarters.
Insp. Rich Harris speaks at Toronto Police headquarters on Oct. 4, 2022.
Harris said the carjackings are targeting both high-end and average vehicles for resale purposes and criminal activity.
“Any high-end vehicle, Mercedes, BMWs, we're seeing Porsche, Lamborghinis...And then when we're saying the not so high-end vehicles, we're seeing a lot of Hondas, we're seeing a lot of Toyotas, sedans. There's no rhyme or reason with respect to the lower-end vehicles,” Harris said.
Harris went on to announce that two more suspects have been identified in connection with two separate carjacking investigations in Scarborough and York Region this summer.
The first investigation involves multiple armed carjackings in Scarborough and York Region on Aug. 19, where a 15-year-old boy was arrested and charged last month.
In the second investigation, a person had their car stolen at knifepoint in the area Pharmacy Avenue and Sesame Street, on Sept. 10. Harris said a 17-year-old boy from Toronto, who was previously reported as 16 years old, has been arrested and charged in connection with this case.
In addition to those arrests, Harris said Valerie Torres-Lizcano, 18, of Toronto, is in custody and faces 14 charges, including robbery with firearm, disguise with intent and conspiracy to commit indictable offence.
Meanwhile, police have issued an arrest warrant for Jasmine Oung, 18, of York Region. She is wanted for robbery with an offensive weapon and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.
Police have released an image of Oung and are urging her to contact a lawyer and turn herself into the nearest police station.
Jasmine Oung, 18, is wanted in connection with carjackings investigations in Toronto. (TPS Handout)
“This is where I'm seeking the public's assistance in locating her and again, we'd rather she get legal counsel and turn herself in as soon as possible,” Harris said.
Harris also identified today another suspect that has been arrested in connection with a different violent carjacking in Etobicoke.
On June 19, two men allegedly approached a woman and attempted to steal her vehicle at gunpoint.
In August, police identified one of the suspects as Toronto resident Hamzah Hussein, 18.
Police located and arrested Hussein on Sept. 30 and he faces 12 charges, including robbery with firearm, possess firearm With ammunition and possession Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking.
Officers also executed a search warrant at Hussein’s residence and say they seized a loaded handgun and a quantity of narcotics at the time of his arrest, and an additional quantity of narcotics and money while searching his residence.
In another carjacking investigation, Harris announced that a suspect is wanted for removing his ankle monitoring device.
On June 26, a man allegedly stole a motorcycle at gunpoint in the area of Islington Avenue and Millwick Drive.
Sameer Ejaz, 20, of Toronto, was subsequently arrested and faces 11 charges, including robbery with a firearm, weapons dangerous and carry concealed weapon.
Sameer Ejaz, 20 is wanted for allegedly removing his ankle monitoring device. (TPS Handout)
Ejaz was released on bail but police alleged he has removed his ankle monitoring device he has to wear as a condition of his release.
“And unfortunately he now has to explain why he cut his ankle bracelet off and that's why we're seeking the public's assistance in locating him and arresting him and putting him right back before the courts,” Harris said.
Ejaz is wanted for two counts of fail to comply with release order.
Anyone with information about any of the investigations is being asked to contact police at 416-808-7350 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.