Police are warning of this most recent taxi driver scam that is making the rounds by trying to take advantage of peoples’ fears of COVID-19.

Officers say in this scheme, a fake taxi is parked in a parking lot as one suspect poses as a driver and the other a customer.

“One of the suspects asks (a victim) for help paying for his taxi fare,” 22 Division officers posted online. “He tells the victim that the driver refuses to take cash due to COVID-19.”

Police said the victim is asked by the fake passenger if he can use his debit card to pay for the fare, in exchange for cash.

“The victim then inputs the PIN for their debit card and into the modified Point of Sale terminal,” police said. “The device records the card data and PIN.”

After the transaction is successful, the victim is given another bank card resembling their own card and accepts cash from one of the suspects before leaving,” officers explained.

Soon the victim’s bank account is cleaned out by the suspects who have access to his card.

Detectives believe there may be others operating similar scams and further victims.

Police are reminding the public to be vigilant when using any type of public transport that results in debit or credit card transactions.

Some tips include: do not leave your debit or credit card unattended inside a Point of Sale terminal anywhere or at any time, be aware of taxi numbers and company names when using their services, be aware of the driver’s identification that is displayed to the customer in the rear of the cab.

Residents are also warned not to make payments for an unknown person, using your personal card, in exchange for cash; inspect your card after each transaction and ensure it is your card and cover your fingers when entering your PIN.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-3200, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, online on our Facebook Leave a Tip page, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes or Google Play.

Toronto Police are warning residents to beware of scammers selling puppies and other pets online as people seek company as we now spend more time at home due to COVID-19.

Police said the pet scam is rampant online and people have to be careful and look for red flags as more people purchase companionship with a credit card.

Officers said scammers use photos of animals obtained elsewhere and post them online. They then take the money of good-natured pet buyers and are never heard of again, leaving some of the potential owners broken-hearted.

The warning stems from a recent case in 22 Division, in which officers responded to a robbery call where a puppy was kidnapped.

“The officers acted quickly in locating and arresting the suspect,” detectives said in a statement. “The puppy was safe and happily reunited with the owner.”

Police are warning that if you’re planning on buying or selling a pet, to do the exchange in a public place with video surveillance.

Always bring a friend or a family member with you and don’t forget to trust your gut if something doesn’t seem right, officers said.

It will be 34 years this year since U.S. astronaut Mae C. Jemison realized a dream and became the first Black woman to travel to space.

Jemison, 65, a physician, flew into space aboard the Endeavour on September 12, 1992, becoming the first African American woman to float around Earth for eight breath-taking days.

Jemison, of Decatur, Alabama, was the first Black woman to be admitted into NASA’s astronaut training program in June 1987.

The youngest child of carpenter, Charlie Jemison, and elementary school teacher, Dorothy, was a quick learner, who loved the sciences. She spent most of her time in the school library reading about science and astronomy.

She flew into space with six other astronauts aboard the Endeavour on mission STS47, and conducted experiments on weightlessness and motion sickness on the crew and herself.

Jemison spent more than 190 hours in space before returning to Earth on September 20. Following her historic flight, she noted that society should recognize how much both women and members of other minority groups can contribute if given the opportunity.

During her time at Morgan Park High School, she became convinced she wanted to pursue a career in biomedical engineering. When she graduated in 1973 as a consistent honor student, she entered Stanford University on a National Achievement Scholarship.

She received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the university in 1977. Upon graduation, she entered Cornell University Medical College and, during her years there, found time to study in Cuba and Kenya, and working at a Cambodian refugee camp in Thailand.

After Jemison obtained her M.D. in 1981, she interned at Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Medical Center and later worked as a general practitioner. For the next two and a half years, she was the area Peace Corps medical officer for Sierra Leone and Liberia where she also taught and did medical research.

Following her return to the U.S., Jemison made a career change and decided to follow a dream she had nurtured for a long time: she applied for admission to NASA’s astronaut training program. The Challenger disaster of January 1986 delayed the selection process, but when she reapplied a year later, Jemison was one of the 15 candidates chosen from a field of about 2,000.

In recognition of her accomplishments, Jemison received a number of accolades, including several honorary doctorates, the 1988 Essence Science and Technology Award, the Ebony Black Achievement Award in 1992 and a Montgomery Fellowship from Dartmouth College in 1993. She was also named Gamma Sigma Gamma Woman of the Year in 1990. In 1992, the Mae C. Jemison Academy, an alternative public school in Detroit, Michigan, was named after her.

After leaving the astronaut corps in March 1993, Jemison accepted a teaching fellowship at Dartmouth. and established the Jemison Group, a company that seeks to research, develop and market advanced technologies.

 

By DAVE KOSONIC

Etobicoke’s E.P. Taylor is described by many for earning his historic place in the winners’ circle of business, local, Canadian and international horse breeding and racing.

His official name is Edward Plunket Taylor and he owned a stately mansion tucked away in the exclusive Lorraine Gardens in Etobicoke, near Burnhamthorpe Rd. and Kipling Ave.

To those close to him he was known as ‘Eddie,’ a business tycoon who passed on at age 88 in1989 in the Bahamas, nine years after suffering a debilitating stroke.

Taylor loved horse racing and accomplished so much during his life and he thrived on challenges including pulling businesses out of the gutter and back to success.

During the highest point of his career, he was one of Canada’s richest people, who was friends of the Royal Family and U.S. Presidents, who would frequent his homes.

E.P. was voted thoroughbred racing’s man of the year in 1973 and the following year was elected to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. In 1977 and 1983 he was named the winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Breeder as the leading thoroughbred breeder in North America.

Taylor’s horses won 15 Queen’s Plate races and were named Canadian Horse of the Year nine times. He was also a founder of the Jockey Club of Canada.

“The sport (horse racing) wasn’t keeping up with the progress made in other areas,“ Taylor said. “I was afraid that horse racing might die here as it did in Quebec.”

He was the first person to breed the winners of both the Kentucky Derby in 1964 with Northern Dancer and the English Derby in 1970 by running Nijinski, a son of Northern Dancer.

To the sadness of horse lovers, Northern Dancer died at age 29, at Taylor’s Windfields Farm in 1990, near Oshawa. The horse went down in history as one of the world’s greatest thoroughbred sires and about 70 per cent of today’s best race horses are among his descendants.

“People do not understand that the principal motivation is not money, “Taylor explained during a 1966 New York Times interview. “I do something that is constructive. There are people who like to paint or garden. I like to create things.”

Windfields Estate was the Taylor family home from 1901 to 1989, where his Royal visitors included Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, in the summers of 1974 and 1981, and Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales.

Taylor founded one of Canada’s most powerful conglomerates, which held brewing, grocery, mining and broadcast interests.  He was also a philanthropist, and a portion of his former Estate was acquired in 2013 by Durham College and Ontario Tech University.

A press release at the time indicated ‘E.P. Taylor saw what others could not. Here on his land our students will answer questions that others have yet to ask.’  The land-use agreement included the preservation of Northern Dancer’s grave and the farm’s historic barns.

He was a private man and not much is recorded about Taylor’s personal life. His wife was the former Winnifred Duguid Thornton and they parented a son and two daughters Charles, Judith and Louise.

On a personal note,  my late father owned and operated a home electronics business near the Six Points called Belmont Television and Electronics. He employed factory-trained technicians to do all his in-home electronic installations and service calls.

However Taylor was one of dad’s favorite customers and dad personally did all service calls at his Lorraine Gardens mansion. Dad said that whenever he did Taylor’s work he was given a crisp $100 bill as a tip.

 

 

A $2,500 youth scholarship is up for grabs as proposals are underway this Black History Month for a Halton resident who submits a winning design for a Black Heritage Police cruiser to be used by Halton Regional Police.

Submissions are being accepted until February 28, after which members of Halton police and the black community will pick a winning design.

“The individual who submits the winning design proposal will be awarded a one-time $2,500 youth scholarship to be used personally or by someone of their designation for post-secondary education,” said Halton police Sgt. Ryan Smith.

Deputy Chief Roger Wilkie said police have not been able to attend community events.

“Due to the pandemic, was are unfortunately unable to organize or participate in Black History Month events like we historically have,” Wilkie said in a release.

The intiative is in collaboration with eight Black organizations; including African Caribbean Council of halton, Black Mentorship Inc., the Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton.

“This cruiser is a unique way for us to highlight our commitment to working with and learning more about our region’s African and Caribbean community, not only during Black History Month, but year-round,” he said.

All residents of Halton are encouraged to submit design proposals that highlight the rich history of African and Caribbean culture in the region. From contributions to the Underground Railroad, to key figures, and significant historical landmarks, the vehicle wrap could highlight a number of contributions from right here in our own region.

Visit haltonpolice.ca/blackheritagecruisercontest to learn more about the contest and submission criteria, and to submit your design.

Homeless Cliff has struck it rich.

More than $17,000 has been raised by residents in the Bloor St. W. and Prince Edward Drive community to help a homeless man who has fallen on hard times.

A fundraiser on Go Fund Me was started in early February by Luisa Piccirilli to help a man, identified as Cliff, who she said in a social media post has been staying in a bus shelter on Prince Edward Dr., or on Grenview, just south of Bloor St. W.

Piccirilli has used her own funds to pay for a week’s stay for Cliff at a local motel so he could get out of the cold. Another resident has vowed to pick up his stay for another week since it is freezing outside.

“He is a very kind soul living in our neighbourhood,” Piccirilli said. “He is homeless and most days can be found at the bus shelter.”

She is calling on others to donate if possible some gift cards for food such as No Frills, Tim Horton’s or Starbucks.

“I welcome any suggestions you may have and thank you in advance for your compassion and understanding,” she wrote.

Picirilli said there are others ‘working around the clock’ to find Cliff a more permanent home.

He is also in need of warm socks, base layers, gloves and winter gear.

“He will be seeing an eye doctor for an exam at the end of the month and getting a new free pair of glasses thanks to FYI Doctors who heard about his story on the radio,” Picirilli posted. “He will also be speaking to a case worker on Monday.”

She said a priority is to find a long-term home for Cliff as the temperature drops.

So far more than $17,000 has been raised to help Cliff, though organizers were hoping for $10,000.

All the funds will be used to help Cliff, residents say.

Picirilli’s efforts to help Cliff has been recognized on social media by fellow neighbours and friends.

“I commend Luisa’s effort to help this gentleman who has fallen upon difficult times,” Susan Jones replied as she made a donation.

“It is natural to help others if we have the ability to do so, not because of anything,” wrote Queenie Law. “Wish everyone can be safe and happy.”

1. V. Viteri said this is a definition of neighbourly love.

“This is what love thy neighbour means, showing kindness to perfect strangers,” Viteri said.

 

Last month we were discussing expert evidence and its dangers. Before we see the expert’s role in a murder case, we need to understand the concerns for this type of evidence.

Experts, if qualified, are the few witnesses allowed to express opinions on matters beyond the knowledge of the ordinary citizen.

Opinions on mental competency, cause of death, accidents and child abuse are examples. The average witness can opine on
simpler matters of everyday experience like speed, anger, and identity.

Yes! Identity is an opinion made from interpreting a combination of distinct observations such as hair, colour, characteristics like scars and configuration of the facial features. You need to explain why it’s the same person. Identity is also the largest
cause of wrongful convictions. Opinions on intoxication are border line where the average citizen’s knowledge and the expert’s ability can both express some opinion regarding the effect.

Courts have always regarded expert evidence with caution, recognizing that a jury may place undue weight on it. The expert must establish their field of study is recognized by
showing an understanding of the field beyond the ordinary person: membership and standards in a professional organization, recognized academic qualifications, research or
experience in the field and such.

The expert then has to objectively set out the facts, leading to their opinion, both pro and con. Objectivity is the foundation of science. It’s important to offset “confirmation bias” –
where your belief determines how you filter and view the facts.

Lastly, they must set out the theory they are applying to their facts and why. That theory must be widely accepted by the
field , tested and verified, not one held by a few contrary. Their duty is to the court. The court is gate keeper and not a peer review panel to decide which is the best science. The court must avoid dealing with ‘dueling theories’, that’s for the scientists.

Of course, their bias can be questioned such as who is paying their fees. If their assumed facts or the expert’s interpretation of them aren’t proven or accepted by the jury, they can reject
the opinion.

In our case, the issue was with the first girlfriend, denying knowledge about the murder she phones the police after a year. We had no idea she was there. Her evidence fit the facts but
still we questioned her motive, jealousy or honesty. We had a circumstantial case, a recent insurance policy and the accused’s lies to the police. We were concerned the trial would be
about her clouding the real issue, the murder.

We also had the duty of presenting all reliable evidence. What was her explanation? Was it trustworthy? Was she an accomplice? We felt it morally wrong for a Crown Attorney to call any witness we doubted.

Also, without moralizing, it is important to re-enforce your case from attacks that she recently fabricated her evidence.

It is always a delicate area for a Crown to questions its key witness’s motive. When the Crown questions their testimony or asks for an explanation they feel you are against them and they
lose trust in you. It was my responsibility to ensure respect and confidence in witnesses, it is also my responsibility to avoid wrongful convictions.

It becomes even more difficult when the key witness is a complainant but that‘s another story for another time.
We retained a psychiatrist. We needed to know why she came to us so late? Was it to seek retribution, or a legitimate inability to live with the event?

The psychiatrist’s evidence would not be available for trial unless the defense suggested she had recently made up a story; otherwise believability is solely a decision for the Jury but it would fulfill our duties. The murder story continues next month.

Judge Lloyd Budzinski retired after 28 years and was a former Crown Attorney, Defence Counsel and Ontario’s Assistant Deputy Minister of Criminal Law.
He was Chief Prosecutor in the high-profile trial of former RCMP officer Patrick Michael Kelly, who was found guilty of murder for throwing his wife from
the 17th floor balcony of their Palace Pier condo in March 1981.