Girl, 14, charged in connection with firework being set off inside TTC bus
A 14-year-old girl has been charged in connection with a firework being set off inside a TTC bus in Scarborough on Tuesday that was captured on video and went viral online.
Toronto police said the girl was travelling on a northbound bus at full capacity in the Kingston Road and Guildwood Parkway area when she allegedly lit a firework.
No injuries were reported, police said. In a news release issued on Wednesday, police announced that the girl had been arrested and is facing a charge of mischief endangering life.
She cannot be identified under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Her arrest comes a day after a video of the incident was posted on social media. CP24 has not independently confirmed the footage.
In the video, a teenager with dreads, wearing runners, blue jeans, a black t-shirt with a blue image, a gray hoodie, and blue runners, carrying a camouflage-print backpack, appears to be smiling while lighting what looks like a blue and yellow firework with a lighter inside a packed bus.
Some of the people with her are heard cheering her on moments before pandemonium breaks out inside the crowded bus as the firework starts to flare up.
Several passengers are then heard loudly screaming while protecting their heads and ducking for cover.
The female holding the lit firework is then seen raising her arm and pointing the firework toward the back of the bus as it goes off.
Inside the smoky bus, one passenger can be heard saying, "You (explicative) idiot," seconds before a number of young people are seen exiting the bus through the side door and fleeing.
In a statement provided to CP24 late Tuesday night, the TTC said they are aware of the incident, which they said happened "earlier" on Tuesday. The city's public transit agency said it has downloaded the video and is investigating.
"Needless to say, deliberately setting off fireworks on public transit is the height of irresponsible behaviour. We are fortunate there were no serious injuries," the TTC said.
"The safety of our customers and employees is paramount to all we do and we are using all the tools and evidence at our disposal to investigate these incidents and pursue charges where possible."
7 incidents in 9 days
In a follow-up tweet posted shortly before 6 a.m. Wednesday, the TTC said it is aware of a "couple of recent incidents" of fireworks being set off on buses in Scarborough.
"They're being looked into and those responsible will be held accountable. Fortunately there were no serious injuries and there's plenty of video available to assist investigators," they said.
The TTC confirmed later in the afternoon that two more similar incidents had occurred, and in total, it is investigating seven firework cases.
No details have been released about the two new incidents. It is unclear if the police are investigating them.
"These are illegal acts and we have video," the transit agency tweeted. "All will be investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
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 Drakeβs Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapperβs sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
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.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.