Coffee or Crime Scene?

Taber Rd 2nd Alarm Fire

2012-02-01T10:57:00.001-05:00

This was a cooker. I was at Weston Rd and Hwy 401 when cops spotted this blaze, before the fire department. Just a quick one exit run on the 409 and then north to Rexdale Blvd. I was on scene before a hose was pulled from the first arriving truck.

Anyone bring the marshmallows?

Hamilton Fire Destroys Two Homes

2012-01-30T08:33:00.001-05:00

I caught this one as I was about to head home. The call came in about 6:30am for smoke in the area of John St N and Picton St E in Hamilton.

Smoke detectors were sounding when crews arrived. The fired spread quickly from the basement to the roof and then through the fire wall into the other side of this semi-detached house.

No injuries were reported but a nearby school will be closed for at least the morning due to heavy smoke in the area.

Working Fires

2012-01-24T23:06:00.001-05:00

We had a couple of good working fires last week. One in Brampton and one in York Region.

Cop Crashes Cruiser

2012-01-13T10:29:00.001-05:00

A Sargent from 55 Division had a bit of a nasty run in with a TTC bus last night. It happened at Danforth and Main. Non-life threatening injuries but she'll be off work for a while. Ouch!

5 Fire Alarm

2012-01-09T12:45:00.000-05:00

This was a nasty fire! It started out small but within ten minutes of arriving I was already thinking it was going to get right out of hand. It went to a 5 Alarm. They pulled all crews out of the building and it spread until you could see flames out of almost every window.

Two Shootings After Quiet Spell

2012-01-05T19:15:00.001-05:00

The overnight shift had been quiet but that ended last night. By midnight I was dealing with a shooting at a downtown hotel. Then a second shooting on St. Clair West closed off the shift. This after three quiet nights.

In the news business Toronto never disappoints.

Toronto Argos Facility Burns

2011-12-24T10:08:00.001-05:00

On the grounds of U of T Mississauga Campus, this Argos training center burnt to the ground overnight.

Double Shooting

2011-12-24T10:06:00.001-05:00

Just when I thought the night was over we had a double shooting at Vaughan Rd and Oakwood Ave. one victim shot in the back, the other in the head, by a shotgun toting thug.

Drive to Arrive Alive

2011-12-24T10:04:00.001-05:00

Queen and Chrysler Dr in Brampton. He was trapped for a while. Two people to hospital. Suspected drunk driver. We want your stocking on the mantel for Christmas not your ashes .... Don't drink and drive.

2 Alarm Fire

2011-12-16T01:41:00.001-05:00

10 Melville Ave #Toronto 2nd Alarm Fire. Heavy damage all crews working.

Double Stabbing in Mississauga

2011-12-10T11:23:00.001-05:00

I just had the one call last night for a double stabbing in Mississauga.

Tonight I'm taking my daughter Jasmine out to chase news in Toronto. She's got a blog and she's on Twitter. We'll see how long this holds her interest.

www.latenightcamjr.com

@LateNightCamJR

Sheppard West Stabbing

2011-12-07T02:46:00.001-05:00

I'm on scene right now of a stabbing on Sheppard West near Wilson Heights in 32 Division. A man who was stabbed in the chest has just been loaded into an ambulance and rushed to Sunnybrook Trauma Center.

I Luv Snow ...... Not!

2011-12-06T21:42:00.001-05:00

We got our first taste of winter last night on the overnight shift. It just thrills me to think ahead to January and February.

Cab vs Streetcar

2011-11-24T13:10:00.001-05:00

He didn't see it.

Occupy Toronto Dismantled

2011-11-23T07:20:00.001-05:00

As the sun comes up the tents come down.

Roll Over

2011-11-21T01:44:00.001-05:00

Police have a driver in custody, after a car left the road and rolled, damaging at least two other cars at used car lot.

The driver is suspected of driving under the influence. Please note the sign in one of the damaged cars windows will need to be updated.

Brampton ZUM Bus Crash

2011-11-19T09:19:00.001-05:00

This is a few days old but I forgot to post it. A Transit bus collided with an SUV at Hwy50 and Hwy 7 in Vaughan. Nine people were taken to hospital.

York Region Fatal Collision

2011-11-19T09:16:00.001-05:00

A man in his 60's was killed while crossing Rutherford near Bathurst. He had just said goodbye to a friend, after attending a service at the synagogue. He was crossing the dark roadway mid-block to reach his vehicle, when he was hit by a Toyota Echo.

Driver Takes Out Gas Pump

2011-11-19T09:11:00.001-05:00

A driver took a short cut through the gas station at Coxwell and Oconner. He may have been going a little fast. He hit a pump, which burst into flames, then fled the scene in his heavily damaged vehicle.

Roll Over And Over

2011-11-17T12:28:00.001-05:00

Two roll over accidents last night. The first on Steeles in Milton. Car vs Tractor Trailer. Female with serious injuries.

The second was a dump truck that forgot to lower the bucket and drive into Hwy 401 EB at Hurontario before hitting the new bridge that is under construction .

Three Year Old Falls From Sixth Floor

2011-11-17T12:17:00.003-05:00

A young girls was rushed to Sick Kids by EMS under police escort, after falling from a sixth floor balcony at 915 Midland Ave.

Her mother would not answer the door or let police inside. The ETF were called and they forced entry. She was taken to hospital under police guard.

It's not known if the girl fell by accident or was pushed or thrown.

Tractor Trailer Fire

2011-11-17T12:17:00.001-05:00

Hwy 401 WB at Hwy 25: I arrived before the fire department. The tractor was completely destroyed. The truck was full of auto parts.

Crane Climber

2011-11-16T02:53:00.001-05:00

A man was spotted by police from Toronto's 52 Division, perched high above the city on top of a crane.

The crane was part of a new condo project at Bremner and Simcoe. The man was ordered down by police and after being checked by EMS, he was taken away in handcuffs.

Here's the crane and the man.

Good Morning Toronto

2011-11-15T06:35:00.001-05:00

It's time to get up and get at 'em.

Attempt Arson

2011-11-15T06:34:00.001-05:00

York Regional Police and Vaughan Fire are investigating an attempted arson on Steeles West.

Brampton Shooting

2011-11-14T05:27:00.001-05:00

Peel Regional Police officers fired shots after they reported a driver tried to run over officers.

A man later admitted himself at Credit Valley Hospital suffering from gun shot wounds. Police believe he may be the driver from the earlier incident, although the car has yet to be found.

Hwy 401 Fatality

2011-11-12T04:24:00.001-05:00

3:30am Hwy 401 EB east of 6 North. Two tractor trailers and a car in collision. Trucks on fire. One confirmed fatality. Full closure EB at 6 North. Extensive backup.

2 Alarm Fire in Mississauga

2011-11-12T01:46:00.001-05:00

Still burning right now. Streetsville.

2nd Alarm Fire Leaves Family Homeless

2011-11-10T04:46:00.001-05:00

A family of five is homeless and four of them are in hospital, after a fire this morning in Scarborough.

The fire started just after 1am on Merilake Dr. and the house was fully involved by the time TFD got on scene.

Four family members including a child were taken to hospital suffering from burns and smoke inhalation.

Grow Op Fire

2011-11-08T02:14:00.001-05:00

Brampton Fire Department were kept busy fighting a fire in a large house on Ecclestone Dr. At one point all crews were pulled from the building as fire broke through the roof.

Neighbors say that nobody lived in the house. People came to cut the grass only.

The OFM will investigate the cause. The house may have been a marijuana grow house.

Wrong Way Driver Killed On QEW

2011-11-08T02:09:00.001-05:00

An elderly male driver, who was not from the area, died in a head on collision on the Toronto bound QEW tonight. Moments after OPP received a 911 call for a car traveling in the wrong direction, they got a flood of calls reporting a crash.

The driver was pronounced in hospital. Three others from the other vehicle are also in serious condition.

Whats Up Doc?

2011-11-07T00:56:00.001-05:00

This guy managed to hit 2 trees and wreck 5 cars, before his car came to rest like this. Speed may be a factor. LoL.

Wilson Heights 3 Alarm Fire

2011-10-22T10:40:00.001-04:00

Crazy 5am blaze that was burning out of control when I arrived. It was a three storey building that had been under construction, on and off for years, prior to the fire.

Area residents say it was being turned into a small multi unit apartment building or condo.

You could see the fire from Hwy 427 to the west and the DVP to the east, as it kit up the early morning sky.

I live covering exciting fires like this. Luckily I was only a couple of highway exits away when it started.

Tragic Friday

2011-10-21T19:48:00.001-04:00

I started off my shift when I found myself very close to a double shooting in Etobicoke. I was first on scene and got both victims. One later died in hospital.

I squeezed an ETF call in and then finished my shift at King and Spadina. A young man lay dead, crushed under the wheels of a garbage truck. His skateboard, snapped in half, lay next to his lifeless body.

Speed Kills

2011-10-11T01:12:00.000-04:00

I was first on scene of this horrific crash last night at Kennedy and Finch. Police say the driver was racing another vehicle and crashed. The car was split in half and the driver was trapped when I arrived.

He was cut out by Toronto Fire but did not survive.

The Future of Breaking News Coverage on TV

2011-07-30T12:26:00.000-04:00

In the last few years local television news has seen somemajor changes. Technology now allows crews to go live quicker and in placesthey never went before. New cellular based devices that allow video to be sentback over mobile phone networks really have been a game changer. We can now golive on trains, roofs, cars and boats. When news breaks we can bring live videoto the viewer’s home or smart phone faster than we ever could before. Couplingthis new technology with old school news tools like police scanners meansalmost instant coverage. For years news crews have monitored Police, Fire and EMS communication systems to find out where the news ishappening. Now they can rush crews to a scene and be live on TV before thepatients are loaded in the ambulances.

I have been covering breaking news events since the late1980’s. I got into the TV game with little more than a camcorder, still cameraand a single police scanner. I love this business. In my younger years I neededsomething to keep me on the straight and narrow. Chasing TV news excited me,then in my 20’s as much as now in my 40’s. I love the chase. I love the adrenalinthat comes with rushing to the scene of breaking news. When a call cracklesacross the scanner about a shooting, accident or fire, it winds me up. Itreminds me how short life really is. It keeps me out of myself and distances mefrom the selfishness that consumes many people today. I am constantly remindedthat other people are going through things that are very difficult, tragic innature and that my world is so small.

These last few years we have seen a huge increase in the useof smart phones. The cameras inside those phones are getting better and better.They will never replace the skills of a trained videographer, even in a YouTube world were people are much less concerned with the quality of video. Theywill however fill a void that is expected to become larger over the next fewyears. Things are changing in the world of local TV news.

As many emergency departments switch to the next generationof radio communication systems, the ability for media to monitor those systemswill be reduced or eliminated. New systems will be digitally encrypted andscanner users will no longer be able to listen in. Many people are saying,“Don’t worry some new type of scanner will become available. Just like they alwayshave over the years as various systems were rolled out.” That probably isn’tgoing to happen this time around. Unless police, fire and ambulance are willingto allow access to media, these systems will not be monitored and chasingbreaking news with information from scanners will become a thing of the past.

Perhaps it’s the Yin and Yang, the natural progression ofevents. Many may think that news was becoming a little too instant. Don’t getme wrong, the live coverage of charity events and weekend festivals willcontinue, but the near instant broadcast of tragic events may end. It will be agame changer. It will change the type of stories you see on the news. Nostation will commit precious resources to cover a shooting that happened 12hours ago. The scene is gone, the witnesses have wandered away and it’s notnearly as exciting as it was when it happened.

Many young people don’t even tune into local news the waytheir parents do. When they want to be entertained by moving pictures they turnto the latest viral puppy video or music video on YouTube. The ratings havebeen on the decline for a long time. They call it fragmentation. Most outletsare now pushing news coverage out to many different platforms in order to reachas many people as possible.

I’m not sure where all this is going. I’m not an expert andhave never been able to see the future. If I could do that I would have boughtstock in AOL back when I first connected to the Internet. They had a fewhundred thousand subscribers. We used modems to connect at 2400 Baud andwatching video online was a fantasy. Today billions of people are connected andthat still only represents about 20% of the world population.

I got an email this morning from a freelance cameraman inthe Hamiltonarea. He seemed worried by the fact that the City of Hamilton is about to switch on a newdigitally encrypted radio system. He pointed out that the Fleetnet radiosystems used by Regional EMS and OPP are all up for discussion, as contractscome up for renewal in 2012. He may have good reason to worry. The game rulesare definitely changing. The rush to encryption may come even sooner after manymedia outlets broadcasted radio transmissions by a fallen officer recently inYork Region. Just to be clear, media had the ability to do that for years,although to many a line in the sand has been crossed. It takes us back to thatrush to get all and any news on the air. If it were up to me that tragic audiowould never have been broadcast. I listened to it unfold as it happened. Weshould have had more respect for those involved.

I would love to hear from some of you first responders outthere. How do you see the future of television news? Do you worry about out ofsight out of mind? Will less coverage of breaking news events be a good or badthing? Will the public be willing to blindly sign off on ever increasingoperating budgets without ever seeing why they are needed? Is it important forpeople to see what really happens on the mean streets?

Please post your comments and thoughts.

( Note: I am currently a videographer for CBC Television. Icover breaking news on the overnight shift by choice. I love what I do. I haveworked for or sold video to just about every media outlet in the GTA. http://latenightcam.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html)

Police Officer Killed in York Region

2011-06-28T11:14:00.000-04:00

Chief Eric Jolliffe emerges with senior officers from a Newmarket Hospital to speak to media. He confirmed the death of Const. Garrett Styles during a traffic stop on Hwy 48. I was in my car monitoring York Regional Police when the officer first called out for help. It was so hard to listen to. It was really very sad. We cover these stories and try to stuff all the emotions back inside. Today I think I ran out of space. I tried to tell my wife about what I had heard but just couldn't do it without my emotions getting the better of me.

Everyone rushed to help him and a brave dispatcher tried to comfort him and reassure him that help was minutes away. The clock seemed to slow and minutes felt like hours.

It took me back to a call I was on years ago on Lakeshore Blvd in Etobicoke. In that call I listened from a few hundred feet away as officers, who were pinned down by gun fire, almost begged a dispatcher for help. You just wish you could reach out somehow and help.

Condolences to the Styles family and to all members of the York Regional Police force.

Fire in the Sky

2011-06-08T21:22:00.000-04:00

Crazy weather last night on my shift. I shot some nice lightning from the garage of a local hospital and then headed down Hamilton way for some trees down in the wind.

I really like Hamilton. I might move there.

Toronto Fog

2011-04-28T08:25:00.001-04:00

Wednesday April 27th, 2011 - Toronto Fog

Tragic Week in Traffic

2011-04-21T07:41:00.001-04:00

427 North closed after serious car vs. truck accident

It's been a bad week on the roads around the GTA. The last three nights have seen major issues on area highways and last night I went to a fatal accident in Port Credit. A small Fierro sports car was cut in half after hitting a tree in Port Credit.

A man in his 50's was killed and a teenager is in critical condition after being air lifted to Sunnybrook Trauma Center. Sadly, family members were on scene. As members of the media we can sometimes seem insensitive to others. I never forget the families and my thought go out to them.

Port Credit Fatal Accident

Truck Fire Closes 401 East for 12 Hours

427 North Bound Closure

2011-04-20T11:18:00.000-04:00

Last night it was a tractor trailer crash that closed the 401 east bound. Tonight it was two tractor trailers vs car on the 427 north bound that closed the highway. The female driver was seriously injured and rushed to hospital. One truck came to rest in the ditch.

Sleepy Sunday

2011-04-11T08:07:00.002-04:00

I thought it was going to be a no hit night but at 3am a call came in for a fire in Markham. This is in the new master planned section of Markham where they mix residential and commercial. The fire was in an apartment above a store. The male resident was burned badly and taken to Sunnybrook for treatment.

Neverending Winter

2011-03-23T09:09:00.000-04:00

March 23rd and I'm still shooting bad weather. Toronto got some snow overnight. This winter feels like it will never end. Please bring on the good weather. I can't take any more of this white stuff.

Markham Burner

2011-02-25T07:47:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I posted anything here. Mostly this is because I've been posting everything on Twitter. I did four shoots last night. The last one was this fire on Macrill in Markham. It started out in the furnace area and quickly spread through all levels of the house.

Snowmegeddon

2011-02-02T10:21:00.001-05:00

I survived (cue deep voice) The Storm of 2011. It's snow big deal.

Plows at the Progess Bridge of Hwy 401

This machine will move your snow .... fast.

Small blower but gets it done at TD Bank Tower

Reluctant Witness - Officer Down: The Morning I will Never Forget.

2011-01-13T03:11:00.003-05:00

Sgt. Ryan Rusell - Killed in the Line of Duty

It was just after six this morning when I first heard the call for a stolen plow. As I was approaching Queens Park on University I heard the call for Avenue and Davenport. Shots fired officer down. “He's barely breathing dispatcher, bleeding from the head and unconscious.” They had already put a rush on EMS.

When I arrived moments later Sergeant Ryan Rusell was lying in the middle of Avenue Road. The snowplow and driver had already fled the scene. Another cop was hot on his tail. I grabbed some video of the officer being treated and loaded for the emergency run to St. Mike's. We cover scenes like this every night. Obviously this one was different. My heart sank as I watched. CPR was in progress. It was at that point I realized his injuries might be fatal.

I then headed west, an unmarked police car followed behind the snowplow as the driver bounced off parked cars and led police on a slow speed pursuit through the Bloor West area. Several times the plow did u-turns on Bloor. That’s how he came to pass me a few times as my dash camera rolled. I followed along as police waited for ETF to get into the area and assist. It took about an hour for officers to get into position. All marked police cars backed off and let the unmarked car call the position of the plow.

As the plow headed up Keele St from Dundas it all came to an end near Humberside Dr. The suspect crashed the plow into a City of Toronto garbage truck. Once again I found myself the first camera on the scene. As I rounded the corner of Humberside and Keele the call came across. Officer down shots fired. “We need two ambulances. The suspect has been shot.” I arrived as an ETF officer limped to a nearby van, assisted by his fellow officers. They were holding him at both elbows. It was chaotic to say the least.

The suspect was loaded into an ambulance and rushed to St.Mike's. The same hospital that tried to save Sgt. Rusell would now be tasked with saving the suspect. Toronto EMS crews dealing with both sides of a tragedy, helping where they can, as best they can. We have so many everyday heroes in this city.

I got two interviews at the Humberside location. The first with the owner of the snowplow, who told me his operator, had been plowing in the Regent Park area. He was out doing some shoveling by hand when a shoeless man came from a nearby building and jumped into the snowplow. He was able to track the plows movements and relay that to police. That is how the Sergeant caught up with the plow on Avenue Road. The plow company owner said in an interview that he was so sad how things had unfolded and hoped the injured officers would be ok. He was holding back the tears as he recounted the events of the morning.

Another young man told me in an interview how he ended up in the middle of the final takedown and that he heard seven or eight shots, as officers rushed the plow. He said the plow was stopped after hitting the garbage truck but may have started moving again as the shots were fired.

I had already been live with CBC News Network three times, the final hit as the pursuit ended with the victim being shot. I rushed back to the station and did a couple more appearances on News Network to discuss what I witnessed. Then it was end of shift. It was a futile attempt to sleep.

The CBC team did an excellent job of presenting the story. It was complex to say the least. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2011/01/12/toronto-police-hurt241.html

I’m back on the road. Waiting for the next story to break. As I left the house tonight I hugged my wife and daughter a little longer than usual. It’s so sad that this officer went to work, protecting us from danger, and never returned to his family.

Tony Smyth - Videographer CBC Toronto

Cross Border Rip Off

2011-01-08T17:27:00.001-05:00

I want to take a few minutes away from my role as a spot news videographer to highlight an injustice. Canada is a great country but our retailers are taking advantage of us on a daily basis. It’s like they are taking money right out of our wallets. It’s just not right.

With our dollar now closing above or near par with the greenback on a regular basis, we continue to be overcharged for our purchases, paying substantially more for the same products in Canada as they do in America. In Toronto we sit one hour away from the US border but our retailers refuse to lower prices and charge Canadians fairly.

We already pay significantly higher taxes north of the border. Some would argue that we are better serviced by our government in return. We are left with much less “after tax” income and we have our buying power further eroded by corporate greed at the retail level.

Here are just a few examples of how we continue to be gouged by retailers. I for one have decided to hold off on any big purchases and just shuffle off to Buffalo when I need anything big.

Maytag
Maxima 5.0 cu. Ft. High-Efficiency Front Load Washer
Model: MHW6000XG

Home Depot Canada $1498
http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogSearchResultView?D=922814&Ntt=922814&catalogId=10051&langId=-15&storeId=10051&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntx=mode+matchall&N=0&Ntk=P_PartNumber

Home Depot America $989.10
http://www.homedepot.com/Appliances-Laundry-Clothing-Care-Washers/Maytag/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xg1Z6Zbv3qZz2/R-202584128/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Maytag
7.4 cu. ft. Maytag Maxima Electric Dryer
Model: YMED6000XG

Home Depot Canada $1198.00
http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogSearchResultView?D=922817&Ntt=922817&catalogId=10051&langId=-15&storeId=10051&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntx=mode+matchall&N=0&Ntk=P_PartNumber

Home Depot America $989.00
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=202584106&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&MERCH=REC-_-product-1-_-202584128-_-202584106-_-N&locStoreNum=121&marketID=1

Dyson DC25 All Floors Upright Vacuum Cleaner

Sears.ca $599.00
http://www.sears.ca/product/dyson-11-amp-dc25-all-floors-bagless-vacuum/620-000669044-15279-01

Sears.com $382.54
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02038525000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

Gold's Gym 480 Treadmill

Sears.ca $599.00 (advertising $600 off until Jan 28 Reg. $1199.00)
http://www.sears.ca/product/golds-gym-trainer-480-treadmill-15chp/606-000097485-GGTL39608

Walmart.com $377.00
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Golds-Gym-480-Treadmill/11993389

Avatar Extended Collector's Edition Bluray 3Disk Set

Best.ca $49.99
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/avatar-2009-blu-ray-blu-ray-disc/m2184778.aspx?path=13568dc7274f66897b424be6e0f4e9e5en02

Walmart.com $27.46
http://www.walmart.com/ip/15172927

Amazon.ca $30.15
http://www.amazon.ca/Three-Disc-Extended-Collectors-BD-Live-Blu-ray/dp/B0045Y1ONE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1294523620&sr=8-2

6 Alarm Gould and Yonge

2011-01-03T06:56:00.000-05:00

Early pics from the 6 alarm fire at Gould and Yonge.

2010-12-01T08:29:00.000-05:00

I almost made it to the end of shift when this 3 alarm fire hit the airwaves in Brampton. This looks to be a suspicious fire. I'm hearing all sorts of stories from neighbours about strange things happening at the home.

Radio Debut

2010-11-30T19:49:00.001-05:00

I finally got my hands on an MP3 of my radio debut on CBC. On Nov. 12th 2010 two young boys were missing in Springwater Township near Barrie. Since I was the only CBC employee on scene they asked me to do some stuff for radio and television via phone. Very exciting .... for me.
Maybe not so much for you. You can listen to it here.

Murder in Markham

2010-11-09T04:30:00.000-05:00

Stuck most of the night at a murder in Markham. A woman is dead after being shot in a home invasion robbery. Her husband was also shot and is in hospital. A child who was home was not injured. I got some video of the male victim arriving at Sunnybrook via air ambulance.

The Sunday of the Gun

2010-11-08T06:14:00.003-05:00

I started off my Sunday night with a homicide in Peel 12 Division at the Holiday Inn Express on Ambler Dr. That's near Dixie and the 401. Not a lot of details from PRP as usual. More will be revealed on the day shift I'm sure.

I also did a call in Scarborough 41 Division where an employee showed up at work allegedly drunk and brandishing a shotgun. Witnesses said he popped off a couple of shots in the air. ETF caught up with him later at his apartment and he's now cooling off in a jail cell.

Police were able to use the gun registry to determine that the man had 14 registered firearms. I'm guessing he will not have them for long.

Lazy Sunday

2010-11-01T06:31:00.000-04:00

A shooting on Falstaff, two seperate rollovers on the highway, a stabbing on King St and a 2nd alarm on Spadina Ave. That was my Sunday night how was yours?

Toronto to Orangeville - Fires

2010-10-18T06:16:00.000-04:00

I went to two fires overnight. The Orangeville fire was better. Mutual aid was called from 3 surrounding departments and damage will be in the millions after a large fire on historic Broadway Ave. I could see the smoke from about 5km outside of town. The Chief was very nice and even gave us a clip.

We also had a two alarm fire in the city earlier. This one was on Dovercourt near Queen. It looks like a porch fire got out of hand. Officers from 14 division helped residents escape the blaze. TFD made quick work of this one. Damage is extensive with no word on cause.

That was my quiet Sunday night.

Pork on the Road - Pig in the City

2010-10-04T08:30:00.001-04:00

Just when I thought the night was almost over. A truck full of pigs rolled over on the 427 ramp to the Gardiner. It will be closed for hours. The trucks were on the way to slaughter. Now they get to live for a few more hours and make a national television debut on CBC. For pigs life doesn't get much better. Living the dream baby!

Double Murder on Weston Road

2010-09-30T09:37:00.000-04:00

TPS secure the scene as EMS rush a victim to hospital

I had only just started my shift when the call came in for a double shooting on Weston Rd near Lawrence. I was on scene within minutes and rolled as both victims were rushed to hospital. Both men later died. This is Toronto's 43rd and 44th homicide of the year. Life in the big city.


TFD and EMS fight to save a shooting victim

Fatal Accident Closes Hwy 27 Near Rexdale Blvd.

2010-09-27T03:09:00.000-04:00

A horrific crash closed Hwy 27 near Rexdale Blvd just as I began my shift. At least one person was killed and a second child just 8 years old is clinging to life. They were passengers in a Honda Civic which was struck by a Mercedes SUV.

The driver of the Mercedes is alleged to have tried to leave the scene, first by trying to blend in with the crowd of witnesses, then arrested while trying to hail a taxi to leave the scene.

PD confirmed to me that alcohol may have been a factor in the crash. The licence plates on the SUV were also expired. The 45 year old driver was taken to Traffic Services for further investigation. Two other occupants of the Honda were also treated by ambulance.

Shots Fired by Peel Regional Police

2010-09-24T03:36:00.000-04:00

A PRP officer discharged his weapon at a fleeing vehicle after his cruiser was rammed on the Queensway near The East Mall. The vehicle was wanted for a break and enter at a computer shop near Cawthra and The Queensway. Police believe the van was used to smash through the front of the store. A number of laptops were stolen. Police are checking video from nearby gas stations and other businesses to see if they can get a better look at the suspects. They are looking for the white van with damage to the rear and bullet holes on the passenger side.

TPS assisted with a large grid search in the south Etobicoke area. So far the van and two male white occupants have not been found.

Shooting in 31 Division.

2010-09-21T04:37:00.000-04:00

Started off the shift with a shooting in 31 Div. Shopkeeper shot in the chest during a robbery. I also went to this crash on the 401 at hwy10 where a car ended up right under a tractor trailer. The wheels would have been inches from the driver at they skidded to a halt. The skid marks were at least 50 feet long.

Gettin' it Done

2010-09-14T07:09:00.000-04:00

I had a really busy night last night. I cranked out 5 items on the night shift including shots fired inside Fairview Mall and this fatal accident on Lakeshore Blvd West in Toronto. The night went by really fast. I enjoyed the Halo video game launch at Best Buy. They are using that on CBC Morning.

I am now safely back in the burbs. Stay Classy Toronto. Let's do it again tonight.

Huge 6 Alarm Fire

2010-09-06T04:59:00.000-04:00

Huge 6 alarm fire tonight on College Ave West at Canada Computers. The fire spread up the walls to the apartments above. TFD reported two firefighters were injured. Way too early for damage estimate or possible causes. This is a four storey building. Heavy damage on all floors.

Bullets and Bodies Fly

2010-08-27T06:40:00.000-04:00

I started my night with a pedestrian struck at Bayview and Major Mackenzie. CPR was in progress as they rushed the female victim to hospital. She was struck by a minivan while crossing the street, after leaving a nearby restaurant.

Next it was off to the Danforth near Main St. after several shots were fired into Annie's Bar. Bullet holes could be seen in the front window and casings littered the street as officers from 54 Division tried to get to the bottom of the gun fire. Patrons took cover and some ran out the back door as the bullets flew. Luckily nobody was injured.

A man in his 80's was rushed to hospital after being struck by a car on Dundas at Burnamthorpe in Etobicoke. The windshield of the car showed how serious the impact was, as officers from Traffic Services reconstructed the accident.

Four Shot in Toronto

2010-08-26T02:35:00.002-04:00

Toronto Police are investigating after four people were shot on Humber Blvd around 11pm tonight. A 19 year old man was shot in the chest and a 17 year old boy was shot twice in the face. A third man was shot in both legs. A fourth victim showed up at a local hospital. This makes a total of seven people shot in 48 hours. The Guns and Gangs Task Force and Major Crime Units are investigating.

Three Shootings Tonight

2010-08-25T02:59:00.001-04:00

We were having a real dry spell for the past couple of weeks. Tonight was the exception. I started my shift and went straight to a double shooting in the Lawrence Heights housing project. One man was shot in the head. I was only on scene for a short time when another shooting happened in Etobicoke near Evans and Royal York. That victim was shot three times and transported to St. Mike's. He wasn't cooperating with police. That's the way this crazy business goes. You wait and you wait some more then everything happens at once.

Finished the night off at a 2 alarm fire on the Danforth near Dawes Rd.

National Home Services Deceptive Sales Tactics Including Costumes

2010-07-30T03:24:00.000-04:00

My family almost fell victim today to the worst business practices I have ever seen. My wife answered the door to a man wearing an orange construction vest. He identified himself as “from the water company” and said he was sent to “check the water heater”. She asked him if he was selling anything. He then said he worked for the company that we rented our water heater from. She let him in the house and he went down to the basement with her. This was a big mistake on the part of my wife but who can blame her? When you see a guy dressed as a construction worker with ID badges around his neck, you may assume he has some official status. She’s still a fairly new Canadian and I need to work with her better to explain how low these companies will go to get into your house.

The guy was from National Home Services ( http://www.nationalhomeservices.ca ) and he was not “from the water company”. He was renting or leasing hot water rental tanks. He had lied to my wife to gain entry into my home. By the time I came downstairs and realized what was going on, I was fit to be tied. I ordered him out of my home in no uncertain terms. I asked for his name which he would not give. I asked for a flyer which he would not give. He had another guy waiting outside and they both stood on my driveway trying to explain to me the merits of the services they offer, while I called them both every name in the book.

If you Google this company you will find others who have fallen victim to these deceptive marketing tactics. They lie to your face in an attempt to get a commission sale. The government has put cooling off periods in place but for many, this is little help. The water tanks are delivered and installed before you have a chance to think about it and then the bills start rolling in. You’re often on the hook for 10 to 15 years in the leasing contracts that have heavy cancellation fees.

This type of door to door selling should simply be outlawed. The fact that we need laws that govern the practice and cooling off periods only makes it more obvious. Have you ever met anyone who said they enjoy the whole door to door buying experience? I have never heard anyone say, “I really like buying natural gas, electricity or water heaters from a stranger at my front door. It saved me going out to buy them.”

The only thing that happens with these lying door to door sales calls is you are separated from your money. If not you are at least left feeling frustrated and bothered while relaxing at home. These companies like National Home Services are deceptive and should not be allowed to operate. I called the company and got little more than a promise to speak to the salesperson and get his side of the story. I wonder what that will be? Obviously he will deny any wrongdoing and say he never lied.

Here's a link to other people who have enjoyed a home visit.
http://www.keyframe5.com/national-home-services-water-heater-division/
http://forums.redflagdeals.com/national-home-services-water-heater-674026/
http://www.bbb.org/kitchener/business-reviews/water-heaters-dealers/national-home-services-in-north-york-on-1174972
http://christopherwatts.posterous.com/who-is-national-home-services
http://www.thestar.com/article/463378

Small Newmarket Fire Gets Out of Hand

2010-07-29T09:43:00.000-04:00

Just when I thought the night was a dud we had a call for a fire in Newmarket. It sounded like they had a good handle on it but it got into the roof and spread across the length of the strip mall. Fire Marshall has been called in and damage will be extensive.

Customer Parking Only

2010-07-27T19:24:00.001-04:00

Working Fire

2010-07-16T02:19:00.001-04:00

Old house fully involved on Donal Cousens Parkway in Markham. Not much to say. They are letting it burn to the ground. Click the pics to make them bigger.

Evil Came To Town

2010-07-14T09:13:00.003-04:00

Started off the night at a fatal accident. When I saw the arm hanging out of the window I knew it wasn't good. Then a guy got shot in the head. When I saw they were bagging him I knew it wasn't good. Then a house exploded. When I saw the fire from miles away I knew it wasn't good.Then a guy got stabbed in the back and died. When they weren't working on him anymore I knew it wasn't good. Then a guy set four fires in a half hour. When they said it was arson I knew it wasn't good.

G20's Over Now Get Back To Work

2010-06-29T06:59:00.000-04:00

The G20 fences are coming down. The world leaders have all gone home. Last night saw a small group of activists holding a vigil at the temporary jail on Eastern Ave. When the sun rose the jail was empty, closed down after releasing or processing the last of the 900 Torontonimo Detainees. The number of people arrested is shocking. It was the largest mass arrest in Canadian history. Clearly Toronto Police brass sent out the order. Arrest them all! Even people waiting for buses or jogging got in on the free rides to jail. The frontline officers were left to carry out the orders. They worked like dogs through heat, humidity and rain storms, while it was clear to see that many were not comfortable with the orders.

So I started my night with some solidarity songs on Eastern Ave and never stopped all night long. Two fires, a crash that sent eight to hospital, a man stabbed confronting a car thief and finally a murder in 23 division. A woman was found at 390 Dixon Rd suffering from multiple stab wounds. EMS rushed to the scene but she did not survive. Minutes later a man, who police say may be the prime suspect, walked in front of a tractor trailer on highway 401 east at Dixon Rd.

It’s Toronto, it’s the night shift and the fun never stops.

Rain Rain Go Away!

2010-06-28T06:53:00.000-04:00

Heavy rains caused the Don River to jump its banks on Sunday evening. The DVP had to be closed south of Bayview Bloor, as did the Bayview Extension. An elderly couple was rescued from that car you see below. I didn't stop all night even though th G20 was finished.

Video Frame Grabs from G20 Overnight Protests

2010-06-27T08:50:00.000-04:00

They obviously had most of the trouble on the day shift. Got to work around 10pm. I ran up and down Queen West for a while with a group of about 150 protesters. Police would push forward with PSU and then open the line to let others on horseback charge the protesters.

I also visited the temporary jail on Eastern Ave. Police boxed in about 80 people there and arrested all of them.

At the end of a really busy night it seemed very strange to come home to my wife and daughter just getting out of bed. "Hi Honey. How was your night?"

Fortress Toronto

2010-06-21T07:53:00.000-04:00

We are now just days away from the G20 Summit in Toronto. I was asked to grab some video overnight as workers put the finishing touches on the fences. I also saw large groups of RCMP officers walking around downtown. To me they seemed to be just familiarizing themselves with the lay of the land. I saw one group as far north as Yonge and Bloor.

Also lots of undercover cops in unmarked cars around the city. That's not suprising I guess. I know they have been watching some of the groups that may protest for at least a month now. I ran into a few one morning in 52 division. I will not say where they were but it's safe to say they have been watching potential trouble makers for weeks now.

Here's a few still shots of what downtown Toronto looked like around 6am this Monday morning.

G20 Toronto 2010

2010-06-08T19:35:00.000-04:00

So as we prepare for the G8 and G20 meetings this month, I was asked to attend a Domestic Threats training session at CBC. It's nice to work for someone who actually offers some training on these type of situations. I remember when I covered the G7 in Detroit - Windsor years ago. I was working for Chum Television at the time. We didn't even have PPE's never mind training.

Hopefully I will not need any of this stuff but somehow I think it may come in handy. Let's hope things don't get too out of hand. It was all pretty well common sense stuff but as we've all heard before, common sense isn't really that common.

Fatal Pedestrian Struck

2010-06-03T08:50:00.000-04:00

It was really quiet last night, save for the car accidents. Whenever it rains we can usually count on it being quiet. It seems though that people don't really change driving habits in rain. So if they go 130 km/hr on the 401 in the sunshine they just go the same speed in the rain. It means call after call for cars spun out and cars into the guard rail. I had listened to them all night then I heard this one that sounded so much more serious. The pedestrain was struck just north of St. Clair on Dufferin, crossing the road about 50 meters from a traffic light. First reports said he was thrown, then others said he was possibly vital signs absent. Paramedics tried to save him but the poor guy didn't make it. He didn't have identification on him so now police are trying to figure out who he was, so that next of kin can be notified. A large hole can be seen in the windshield of the Honda minivan that struck him.

Media Not Welcome in Peel Region

2010-05-28T02:21:00.000-04:00

I had a run in with Peel Police tonight. I showed up at a house fire / grow op on Canvey Crescent at the same time as two other shooters from City and CP24. I could tell right away by the look on the Constables face that it was not going to go well. We all parked and as I approached his cruiser, which was blocking the road, I tried to warm him up by asking how his night was going. He was obviously a man of few words. I setup my tripod and asked him to call his Sergeant and let him know we were requesting access. As I started shooting down the road I noticed that all the neighbours were out on the street and a large group of about a dozen had gathered near the fire trucks.

I pointed this out to the cop and asked if we could go up. It was clear to me that no danger existed and no crime scene tape had been put up. He again refused access and I told him I was going up and that he better call his Sergeant. You might be asking yourself why I would be so confrontational with an officer. You have to realize that this is common practice in Peel Region. I could easily gather a large crowd of camera operators who have had disagreements with Peel Police. Almost always these are precipitated by lack of access to streets in the area of crime scenes and fires. It often seems containment is a higher priority than investigation. It would appear that the containment has more to do with keeping media out rather than preservation of evidence or investigation.

Standard practice for media responding to calls in Peel is to find access as quickly as possible without contact with officers at road blocks in the area. We know from years of experience that once inside the traffic perimeter we are generally allowed to do our job and leave, often very quickly as was the case tonight at the fire. If you approach a road block you may as well come back in a few hours, as you will inevitably sit and wait a long time. So we are forced to immediately look for lane ways, alleys or fields that we can cut through to get to the scene and join the handful of gawkers that usually are already on scene. This was the case tonight as it was clear that all the neighbours were out watching, but the only people not allowed down to the scene were, at least in the mind of the Constable, the arriving media. People had kids and dogs for God sake. It doesn’t take a genius to conclude that the fire is now out and it may be safe to let media closer. The firefighters were rolling up the hoses!

A quick survey of GTA media that asks them to rate each Police Department on a scale of one to ten may be eye opener for PRP. If media field personnel were asked to rate based on ease of access and ability to document events, PRP would surely find that they are clearly lowest on the list. I can show up at a serious car accident in Halton Region and be immediately escorted right down to the area of the accident, before the occupants are even in ambulances. They rank among the best to deal with in Ontario. OPP dealing with fatal highway accidents on 400 series highways have clear policies in place. A media officer is immediately called to the scene and escorts cameras so they do not interfere with evidence gathering. In fact as overnight camera operators we all have the cell phone number for OPP Media Sgt. Dave Woodford, and yes we can call him in the middle of the night. In Toronto we can attend murders and get what we need and seldom have any issues with officers. In York Region we can at least feel confident that they will do what they can to allow reasonable access. A York PD Duty Inspector is always on scene quickly, willing to tell us what he can and assure we have some information to work with. All of these things seem foreign to PRP and the only thing I can be assured of in Peel is that I will have no information and will have to fend for myself and sneak in to get video.

Further evidence of how hard it can be to cover news in Peel Region can be found on my blog in a post from last year. (http://latenightcam.blogspot.com/2009/06/when-is-shooting-not-shooting.html) It was June 2009 when I attended a murder and had a similar experience. My colleagues from City, CTV and Global TV all share the same frustration that I do. I feel it’s time for PRP to take a look at how they handle the media and how they are perceived by the media. Otherwise we will continue to show up already on guard and assuming the worst possible reception.

Sad Day for the Land of Smiles

2010-05-19T23:27:00.001-04:00

I've made many trips to Thailand, meeting my wife there years ago. We have watched in horror as events unfolded in Bangkok over the last few days. It really hit home today when we found out that crowds were also burning buildings in Isaan, in the rural north east. We have family in Mukdahan, Khon Kean, Salakam and have traveled extensively in the North East. My mother-in-law lives in a small village just outside Mukdahan, along with my sister-in-law and her family. We were in Thailand for most of February 2010 and were already hearing about trouble on the horizon when we were leaving. Even our cab driver, most of whom come from Isaan, warned us that big trouble was coming in March.

Mukdahan May 2010

My brother-in-law went into Mukdahan this morning to get supplies. He told us by phone that he was stopped by police at a checkpoint, explaining to them he only wanted to get milk for his baby. My other brother-in-law went into Khon Kean but returned home. He said things were bad and that he heard Red Shirts were planning on burning a local bank.

Thai people are usually so peaceful. I guess you can only keep the poor man down for so long before he strikes back. Hopefully the current conflict will lead to a stronger democracy and peace in the Land of Smiles.

Murder on Eglinton West

2010-05-17T07:01:00.002-04:00

It has been a while since we had a shooting on the night shift. In fact it's been fairly quiet overall. That came to an end last night about 2am when the call came in for a shooting on Elginton Ave West near Keele. Police are now confirming that a 15 year old male was shot in the face and died later in hospital. Police taped off the area and forensics will be on scene this morning.

Update: One in custody. Sheronnie Thomas turned himself in at 52 div May 18th. Good work by all involved. G+G shake that tree.

Tony Smyth - Fast Forward

2010-05-15T00:43:00.002-04:00

Mustang Slams Into Wall

2010-04-22T06:27:00.003-04:00

TFD and EMS work to free two victims pinned after a craash on Finch Ave West near Keele St overnight. @vaughanweather and @gtanews look on from the side lines. I also shot two seperate stabbings in opposite ends of the GTA. One was Winston Churchill and Hwy 403 and the other was Meadowvale Rd and Sheppard in Scarborough. I also went to the Brook and St. Mike's. I think I did all four corners of the GTA. One more shift until the weekend.

Shots Fired. Rush the Ambulance!

2010-04-19T09:04:00.000-04:00

Police shot and killed a man last night at Cheery St and Commisioners St. I was actually in Etobicoke when they were involved in a chase. The chase was called off after the driver ran several red lights. He was last seen into the Port Lands. That was his biggest mistake as it only has three ways in and out. Police confronted him again on Commissioners St. and he failed to stop, striking one officer with his car. Shots were fired and the man was killed. SIU is now on the scene investigating.

Nothing is more stressful than listening to these words crackle out of your scanner. “Shots Fired! We need an ambulance.”

Good News and Bad News

2010-04-16T07:35:00.001-04:00

Shooting Scene 1050 Brock Road Pickering

Thursday night shifts are always easy to take. I start at 9:15pm and by 5:30am Friday morning it's the weekend for me. We had only one decent call last night and that was for a shooting in Durham Region on Brock Rd in Pickering. I grabbed a shot of the victim arriving at Sunnybrook and headed to the seen. Not such a good night for the guy who got shot. The good news is that I found a giant rocking chair right across the street from the shooting scene. It begged for a photo. You can click on the images to enlarge them.

You Rock My World Baby

DVP Closed All Night

2010-04-15T08:19:00.003-04:00

The DVP is busy at the best of times. It's a major problem when it has to be shut down. That's what happened last night just after midnight, after a three car rear end crash. An 18 year old women was trapped in one car and had to be cut out with the jaws of life. @trafficservices then needed to do full traffic reconstruction. The road was re-opened part way through the morning rush hour. Never a dull moment in the big city.

Steeles and Birchmount Accident

2010-04-13T09:48:00.001-04:00

Here's a couple of shots from an accident this morning on Steeles at Birchmount. Witnesses say the SUV may have run a red light and t-boned the minivan. Looking at the wreck you can see it doesn't look good for the driver of the van. The whole driver's side was caved in. The intersection was closed for reconstruction by @TrafficServices. A red light camera at the intersection may have caught images of the accident.

Crash Kills 17 Year Old Driver

2010-04-12T09:08:00.000-04:00

Peel Police are investigating an accident that killed a 17 year old boy last night in Mississauga. A car was west bound on Drew Rd when it left the road, destroyed a bus shelter and hit a tree. The driver was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. Police are asking for anyone that was in the area last evening, who may have scene anything, to call Peel Police Major Collision Bureau.

Police Pursuit and Crash

2010-04-03T21:06:00.002-04:00

I’ve been covering news since 1987 and have never witnessed what I saw last night. Sure, I’ve been to police chases before, some of them fatal. I’ve seen people trapped in bad wrecks. I’ve seen teenagers ejected in crashes because they didn’t wear seat belts. Last night after 30 minutes working with the Jaws of Life to free a young girl trapped in a car the unexpected happened. A spark ignited leaking gas and in seconds firefighters were frantically trying to extinguish a fire that threatened the young girl trapped in the back seat. The firefighter worked really fast to put out the flames and it really was all over in about 15 seconds but it took my breath away, in a way that news seldom does after 23 years on the job.

The SIU may not be saying much but it’s no secret. The accident occurred within seconds of the first radio transmission. An officer was following a vehicle that was not stopping when attempting to pull it over. Before the usual questions could even be asked, speed, licence plate, description …. It was over. As the minivan approached the intersection of Albion and Highway 27 the van struck two vehicles, one worse than the other, trapping a nine year old girl in the back seat of the crushed wreckage. We could hear her crying in pain as they attended to her father who was bleeding and shaken.

From the minivan, police will allege that one male ran from the scene, the other who appeared incoherent, arrested right away. The runner didn’t make it far. Within moments they were both cuffed, of little consolation to the victims now being rushed to local hospitals. Today the details are sketchy in the news media. SIU is on the case. The facts will emerge at a snails pace. Police are forced to say nothing until SIU completes the investigation, although I would guess they would like the public to know what really happened. I think they did a great job, balancing the need to apprehend with the need for public safety. Although this incident was barely long enough to be called a pursuit, police call off most chases within minutes or at the first sign of erratic driving, a fact too well known among those trying to avoid apprehension.

Early Morning Fire Hits Queen West

2010-04-03T09:23:00.000-04:00

Four alarm fire destroys a 3 storey apartment building on Lisgar St in 14 Division. Queen West was closed due to smoke conditions and traffic issues. It looked like they had this one licked but it got into the walls and up to an add-on on the third floor. Two treated for minor injuries. As many as six apartments are left heavily damaged.

Highway 400 Closed by Truck Fire

2010-03-29T10:38:00.001-04:00

We thought the night was over. We had already done a fatal fire in the east end earlier last night. It was 6am and we were both almost at the end of shift. TV Tommy (@vaughanweather on Twitter) and I were chatting it up at Weston Rd and the 401 when this tractor trailer fire came across the airwaves. We arrived before O.P.P. and TFD and as you can see it was fully involved. The truck contained non-dairy creamer. The highway was closed for an hour or so and remained a big mess all morning long.

Air Ambulance Lands on QEW

2010-03-26T12:41:00.002-04:00

A 39 year old man is dead this morning after he ran into the back of a stopped tanker truck on the QEW east bound just east of Winston Churchill. Both east and westbound lanes were closed so air ambulance could land on the highway. Sadly they left without the victim after he was pronounced dead on the scene.

The helicopter came into contact with wires on takeoff. I captured it on video but didn't notice it at the time. Bert from City-TV saw it clearly and said we almost became a Youtube video. It wasn't until later that I realized I had a brush with danger. They will inspect the helicopter later today.

The truck was stopped for emergency maintenance on the right shoulder. The car was destroyed. The east bound QEW remained closed for accident reconstruction. Traffic was diverted onto Hwy 403 up toward the 401 causing traffic nightmares for the morning commute into the city.

All of this after a very quiet Thursday night shift. So this added some overtime onto my shift. I'm home now enjoying my wife's company and the weekend.

Roll Roll Roll Your Truck Gently Down The Highway

2010-03-24T07:08:00.000-04:00

Really busy night at work, including this truck roll over on the 409 West. I also shot a stabbing and a couple of other crashes. In another crash a TTC street car crashed into a TTC maintenance crew and sent three workers to hospital. I didn't shoot anything the last two days so we made up for it tonight. That's TV .... hurry up and wait.

Double Shooting in Peel Region

2010-03-17T08:05:00.000-04:00

A Peel Police Officer gathers evidence and searches for shell casings. The scene was a parking lot beside 325 Webb Dr. just steps from Square One. Two people were shot and police are looking for two others seen leaving the area in a tow truck. A large parking lot was surrounded with crime scene tape after officers discovers shell casings lying nearby.

Fatal Crash on DVP

2010-03-12T11:59:00.000-05:00

A City of Toronto garbage truck lost control on the ramp from the viaduct to the north bound DVP. This ramp comes down from near the Pizza Pizza at Broadview. It's very steep and right at the end it takes a very sharp right turn. I've squeeled my tires there myself when hitting that sharp turn at the bottom. One person was ejected and one was trapped for two hours then rushed to Sunnybrook. Sadly they past away. My condolences to family and city staff. Prior to this we had covered Metro's latest homicide at 4010 Lawrence East where a man was found in the hallway shot in the head. Very busy night.

Project Folkstone - That was fun wasn't it? What's next?

2010-03-11T11:23:00.001-05:00

We have all been kept very busy on the night shift for the last two nights. As police put the finishing touches on Project Folkstone we've been there to gather video of all the suspects being brought in for booking and the ETF doing morning wake up calls. This morning they visited a few more homes and we were there as they confiscated a Porsche in Etobicoke. It will all be on the news tonight of course. Thanks to all those involved for making the streets a little safer, for not freaking out when the cameras showed up and for that nice little chunk of overtime that will be on my next cheque. Here is a link to the full media kit regarding this project. http://www.opp.ca/ecms/index.php?id=491

Multiple Warrants Executed.

2010-03-10T12:04:00.000-05:00

Police executed several search warrants this morning around the GTA. They will hold a news conference tomorrow to announce details of the operation, described as an international gun and drug smuggling organized crime ring. Seems everyone played a part in this one including O.P.P., Toronto, York, Durham and Windsor Police. It also involved Border Services and the ATF. A show-n-tell is scheduled for Thursday morning at YRP 2 District. We shot several suspects arriving there this morning. We will be hearing more about this in the coming days.

Line of Duty Death

2010-03-03T00:50:00.002-05:00

Peel Regional Police Constable Artem "James" Otchakovski died Tuesday after his cruiser collided with another vehicle

The officer died after a collision at Airport Rd and Steeles. His cruiser collided with another vehicle and then hit a pole. My condolences to his family and fellow officers. The other driver was treated for minor injuries. No word on cause or charges.

He died in the line of duty, while protecting residents and visitors in Peel Region. I personally appreciate the service and hard work by him and his fellow officers.

401 Closed After Truck Rollover

2010-02-23T05:46:00.003-05:00

OPP had a mess to clean up on the 401 westbound at Yonge Street through the night. A truck carrying particle board rolled over, depositing its load and diesel fuel across all lanes. The heavy tows got to work and the highway was to remain closed through the morning rush hour.

Sensational in Siam

2010-01-28T09:42:00.000-05:00

I was just thinking back to my last trip to Thailand in 2005. Can't wait to get back to The Land of Smiles.

Gas Line Fire Closes Woodbine Ave in Unionville.

2010-01-20T08:44:00.001-05:00

Police and fire evacuated about 40 houses in the area of this gas line fire. It took about 8 hours to isolate and shut down the gas. Woodbine Ave remained closed most of the night near 16th Ave in Unionville.

Project Lam Ying

2010-01-13T11:32:00.000-05:00

A large group of police officers, firefighters and EMS rolled out of 42 division early this morning to put the finishing touches on Project Lam Ying. The target was a drug lab just down the street from the police station. Here is the News Release

Four Alarm Beaches Fire

2010-01-05T09:26:00.001-05:00

A Few More Pics.