A Burlington man is behind bars in connection with a fatal car crash on Parkside Drive in which an elderly loving couple were killed.

Police were called on October 12 at 4:40 p.m. to investigate a personal injury collision which involved five vehicles in the Parkside Drove and Spring Road area.

“A 38-year-old man was driving a 2013 BMW southbound on Parkside at Spring Rod at a high rate of speed,” according to police. “The BMW collided with a 2003 Toyota Matrix vehicle which created a chain reaction with three other vehicles.”

Members of Traffic Services Unit said a 71-year-old man driving the Toyota Matrix was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The passenger in the Matrix, a 69-year-old-woman was taken to hospital where she succumbed to her injuries,” Traffic Services said in a release.

The driver of the BMW was taken to hospital with no- life-threatening injuries.

The couple, identified as Valdemar Avila, 71, a roofer, and his wife of 48-years, Fatima, 69, were driving  to a local Costco to refill a prescription when they were involved in the chain-reaction crash.

The Avilas, according to Global News, lived over a Dundas Street West beauty salon where Fatima worked for 30 years.

“I know that my father-in-law was a very religious man and he would want to forgive him, even though what happened is tragic. You have to forgive in your heart,” a family member told Global News.

The couple were laid to rest at St. Helen’s Roman Catholic Church, in the heart of Little Portugal where the couple was well known.

“They loved going for walks. People here in Little Portugal, they know them for their walks,” the family member said, adding they walked for an hour daily.

The couple, it is reported, lived for their two grandchildren whom they adored.

Artur Kotula, 38, of Burlington, is charged with two counts of criminal negligence causing death.

He appeared before an Old City Hall court on November 19.

Media reports state that the suspect has no immigration status in Canada and had an suspended licence.

Police said their investigation is still ongoing.

Toronto city council has since approved a motion to reduce the speed limit along Parkside Drive from 50 to 40 km/h along with other traffic calming measures.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1900, 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.

Police are warning women using public washrooms to be vigilant.

Some 36 women using washrooms in Brampton and Toronto were secretly filmed, according to police.

A Brampton man has been charged by Peel Regional Police for 36 counts of voyeurism, in addition to sexual assault and mischief.

Police allege between August 13, 2020 and August 18, 2020, a suspect attended ‘numerous’ female washrooms at businesses in Brampton and Toronto and ‘concealed himself in a bathroom stall.’

“The suspect would then place his cellphone under the partitions and took videos of unsuspecting female victims using the washroom,” Peel police said in a release.

Officers allege the suspect had a busy schedule.

“During the same time period, the suspect attended multiple stores and public places within the cities and allegedly captured videos that were pointed under a skirt,” according to detectives.

The suspect was first charged by police in August 2020 and more charges were laid on November 16 as a result of further investigation.

The suspect came to the attention of police after they received calls about a suspicious male entering the ladies’ room at Kennedy Square Mall, near Kennedy Rd. S. and Clarence St., in Brampton.

Officers arrived to find the suspect hiding in a stall within the bathroom.

The suspect was also seen entering and exiting a women’s washroom inside of a department store near Kennedy Rd. S. and Steeles Ave. E., in south Brampton.

Andre Lawrence, 31, of Brampton, is charged with 36 counts of voyeurism. He appeared in Brampton court on November 17.

Investigators believe there may still be additional victims, and are urging them to contact investigators from the 22 Division Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-453-2121 extension 2233. Witnesses, or anyone with information on this investigation, are also asked to contact investigators, or provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-888-222-TIPS.

 

The newest mural to honour frontline worker was unveiled on the side of a Lakeshore Village credit union.

The massive work in New Toronto is displayed on the west wall of Alterna Savings and Credit Union at 3001 Lake Shore Blvd. W., near Ninth Street, and is the creation of artist Jim Bravo.

The work was sponsored by the Lakeshore Village BIA and a number of residents and dignitaries were in attendance for the ribbon-cutting that took place at 4:30 p.m. on November 17.

The well-known muralist Bravo has worked on more than 30 public murals and a number of private large-scale commissions.

“Through local arts organizations, Bravo has also served as an arts mentor for several at-risk youth initiatives,” according to his biography.

He majored in drawing and painting at OCAD University.

Most members of the community said they like the mural, as others complain it is barely visible from the busy Lake Shore Blvd.

The work is part of a StreetARToronto Front Line Heroes Project, which showcases Toronto as home to some of the best street, mural and graffiti artists and art in the world, according to the city.
“This series of artworks features street, mural and graffiti art that celebrates Toronto front line service providers including health care workers, volunteers and other heroes responding to the global coronavirus pandemic,” the City said of the project.

Titled “Celebrating Front Line Heroes” the works represent a diversity of essential workers of all ages, genders, backgrounds and professions from mail carriers and grocery store employees to teachers and sanitation workers, as well as doctors, nurses, and first responders, all painted by an equally diverse group of artists.

“Our streets need to be safe and functional and StreetARToronto has shown that they can also be beautiful and inspiring, reinforcing our sense of place and our image of ourselves,” said Barbara Gray, General Manager the City’s Transportation Services.

 

An Etobicoke hotel where a sex act took place is under the microscope.

Toronto Police have launched a probe into allegations of voyeurism and the distribution of intimate images without consent.

Police allege that in October or November 2019, two men exchanged messages on a dating app and arranged to meet at an Etobicoke hotel near Pearson International Airport.

Officers said the men had consensual sex in a hotel room.

“In 2021, the victim was looking at the suspect’s public pornography website and noticed several videos of their sexual encounter posted to the website,” police said in a release.

“The posted videos were taken without the victim’s knowledge or consent.”

Officers are trying to locate the suspect, who they said uses the name David Rosso and is believed to be in his 50s.

Detectives have released a photograph of the suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5200, 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.

Police are warning the public about an arrest made in a bizarre case involving a man who allegedly committed indecent acts against seniors in a long-term care home.

Police allege between October 9 and November 9 this year, a suspect attended a long-term care home facility about five times in the north Etobicoke area.

Officers claimed the man allegedly exposed himself to residents of the facility, including seniors, on multiple occasions.

Benjamin Rojas, 26, of Toronto, was arrested on November 9 and charged with four counts of committing an indecent act.

He appeared in court at 2201 Finch Avenue W., on November 10 by via video link.
Officers believe there may be other victims .

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-2300, 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.

The Toronto Animal Services (TAS) are investigating the horrific deaths of two pet bunnies which were killed by a suspected pit bull in New Toronto.

The bodies of Leo and Ruby are to be reclaimed from examination by the TAS tomorrow and Pastor Veta Saunders, of Etobicoke Praise Centre, will say a prayer for the lovable duo as they are buried arm-in-arm in a casket under a magnolia tree this week.

Christina Murie, the owner of the rabbits, said they were killed on November 5 by a suspected pit bull that was brought to her Birmingham Business Centre, at 80 Birmingham Street, by a woman who was hired to do some painting.

The local painter had done some work for Murie before.

“I had told the woman not to bring that dog to my property,”’ Murie mourned. “I was not at the property when the bunnies were killed.”

She has been crying for the bunnies for days and one of her employees was so sickened by the gruesome killings that he was off work for a week.

Residents said the dog managed to enter the premises and made its way to an area where the bunnies were kept. The rabbits were chased by the menacing dog and received multiple fatal bites, Murie explained, adding she believes the bunnies were tossed around by the dog.

She said the bunnies were rare and expensive. Leo was a Lionhead rabbit and Ruby a Himalayan bunny.

The bunnies were house and pet trained and had an indoor space, with a fountain, and were placed outside during the day. They were a favourite of local school children and visitors to the building.

“Both bunnies were adopted from the Toronto Animal Services,” Murie said. “They (TAS) were also surprised that the bunnies were killed.”

“People loved playing with the bunnies,” she recalled. “They were very cute and lovable.”

Murie is hoping the dog’s owners will receive a fine or be required to place a muzzle on the animal.

“This animal is large and should not be allowed on the street without a muzzle,” she insisted. “These dogs can be very dangerous.”

She said another employee was nipped three times by the dog without suffering major injuries.

Murie is comforted that her other pets, which includes a cat, fishes and turtle in an indoor pond weren’t touched.

 

 

 

The province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating after a Toronto Police Service officer fired a less-lethal shotgun at a man in central Etobicoke.

The SIU said preliminary information suggests that about 10 a.m. on November 15, officers responded to West Mall Bloor Plaza at 290 The West Mall for a man in distress.

“There was an interaction, and one officer discharged a less-lethal shotgun at the man, striking him with sock rounds,” the SIU said in a news release. “Another officer discharged a conducted energy weapon (TASER) at the man.”

The SIU said the man was taken into custody under the Mental Health Act and brought to hospital.

One subject official and five witness officials have been designated at this time.

The SIU’s mandate was invoked because a police officer discharged a less-lethal shotgun, which is classified as a firearm.

Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, a firearm is defined as a barreled weapon from which any shot, bullet or other projectile can be discharged and that is capable of causing serious bodily injury or death to a person.

The SIU is called to probe police actions that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault, or the discharge of a firearm at a person.

All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilian, under the Special Investigations Unit Act.

The SIU is urging anyone who may have information, including video or photos, in relation to this investigation to contact the lead investigator at 1-800-787-8529 or on the website at: https://siu.on.ca/en/appeals.php

 

Mom is injured but her daughter dies.

A five-year-old girl has died after a vehicle driven by her mother slammed into a tree on Renforth Drive.

A 31-year-old woman driving a white Nissan Versa was transported to an area hospital and is in non-life-threatening injuries, police say.

Police said the incident occurred on November 13 at 9:09 p.m. after officers responded to a collision on Renforth, just south of Centennial Park Gate.

“The woman lost control of the vehicle and hit a tree on the east side of Renforth Drive,” officers from Traffic Services said in a release.

“A five-year-old girl who was a passenger in the vehicle was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries and was pronounced deceased at hospital.”

“I saw them trying to get the mother out of the vehicle while she was sadly screaming and horrified,” one witness said.

The investigation is being conducted by members of Traffic Services. Police are interested in speaking anyone who may have witnessed the collision as well as local residents, businesses or drivers who may have security or dash camera footage of the area or incident.

It is not known what led to the crash.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1900, 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.

A woman was killed and a man was seriously injured after a vehicle hit two poles in South Etobicoke on Saturday night.

Toronto police said a car struck a pole on The Queensway, east of High Street, just west of the Humber River, around 8:15 p.m. on November 13.

The car split in half as a result of the crash and a woman had to be rescued after she became trapped in the vehicle, police said.

A 22-year-old-woman was rushed to the hospital in life-threatening condition. Police said she later died from her injuries.

Police said the woman was operating an Acura TL sedan westbound on The Queensway when she lost control of the vehicle and struck two poles.

The impact caused extensive damage to the vehicle, police said.

“The driver was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries and was pronounced deceased a short time later in hospital,” police said.
Paramedics said a man was also transported to a hospital in serious condition.

The cause of the crash is unknown.

The car wreck scattered debris across the road. Police closed the area for investigation.

 

 

 

Members of the community are invited to the unveiling of a huge mural honouring front-line workers on November 17 at 4:30 p.m. at the corner of Ninth Street and Lake Shore Blvd. W.  The beautiful mural pays tribute to our hard-working front-line workers. It took several weeks to complete by community artist Jim Bravo (on cover on ladder).

The artwork can be seen at the side of Alterna Savings, at 3001 Lake Shore Blvd. W. All are welcome.

Here are some more events taking place in our community.