GOT HIM: Mexico nabs druglord Joaquim Guzman
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Police tell a YouTube tale of serial shopping mall molester
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York Region Police spin an interesting YouTube story with surveillance video of a man they think is a serial molester in the nearby Upper Canada Mall. Whoever it is, he has been at it since last summer and cops reasonably conclude that he lives quite nearby.
TODAY’S TIP: Don’t smash into police cars when drunk
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Police say two drunk drivers crashed into police cruisers early Friday in North York. There’s really not a lot more to tell about these hapless motorists except they are no longer driving. It happened after midnight when a woman rear-ended a cruiser on Finch Avenue West near Rumike Road. She ran away but guess what they caught her. Later, a man bumped into a cruiser at the same scene and was arrested. Class dismissed.
Resin used in LRT work causes bad odour along Eglinton E
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Dr. Kathleen Healey
A resin called Styrene-acrylonitrile being used in LRT construction is causing a foul smell along Eglinton Ave. west of Bayview Ave. Jen Murray of the Insight Naturopathic Clinic said it smells like a “giant permanent marker had exploded.” The resin is used to strengthen sewer pipes as tunneling work proceeds underground. In everyday life, it is used to protect things like food containers, kitchenware, computer products, packaging material, battery cases and plastic optical fibers. It is said to make many things resistant even to boiling water Dr. Kathleen Healey at 543 Eglinton said she and her assistant have been “sickened” by the smell. But Dr. Healy seemed most annoyed that Metrolinx, the Ontario agency in charge of construction, could not tell her and her associates what it was.
Joseph Petit, 17, victim of East York shooting last Monday
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Joseph Petit
A 17-year-old boy, Joseph Petit, is dead from injuries he received Monday, January 4, 2016 in a shooting near Danforth and Victoria Park Aves. at about 6 p.m. Police say the boy lived in the East York neighbourhood and the shooting doesn’t appear to be random. Two suspects who were seen were wearing either fur-trimmed jackets or hoodies. Police say Petit had been walking his German shepherd dog shortly before he was shot. Petit, who was shot in the neck at close range, was rushed to hospital in critical condition. He died on Thursday night, police confirmed earlier today. Police are asking anyone with information about the fatal shooting to contact investigators at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS.
Roxborough St. West homeowner asks OMB for parking pad
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In what would appear to be a precedent-setting application to the Ontario Municipal Board, the owner of the home 67 Roxborough Street West in Summerhill has appealed a decision of the City’s Committee of Adjustment to deny a parking pad in front of the house. The application was turned down in response to opposition by many residents, the ABC Residents Association and Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam. The ABCRA is planning to oppose the request again before the OMB. Roxborough St residences like homes in much of Summerhill have restricted parking. Most residents park on the street, But an early 20th century laneway runs behind 67 Roxborough and the owner has already been given permission to build two garages back there. Opponents think it is piggy to want to park on property at the front as well. The parking pad is a sorely frowned-on phenomenon at City Hall, where most Councillors want them banned completely. Some say they take up curbside parking because the access curbs to pads are required to be kept clear. On the other hand, there seems little question that a parking pad is safer for the vehicle and contributes to off-street parking. Fewer cars parked on the street make traffic safer many contend. The ABCRA takes its name from boundaries west of Yonge St. being Avenue Rd., Bloor St. and the CP tracks.
Friday morning sky a symphony of pink, orange and blue
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That curious glow of pink from the east as eyes were first opened this morning packed quite a wallop when early risers saw it straight on. More wonderful pictures from the CBC and from Twitter at Toronto Sky
SAILOR’S WARNING?
Of course the old English Channel rhyme that declares Red Sky at Night, Sailor’s Delight, Red Sky in the Morning, Sailor’s Warning will not be critical to our survival. Fishermen used to count on it to keep them safe. Sadly, however, the pattern is true. There will be rain later Friday.
Cops say rogue cabbies using debit cards to rob riders blind
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Toronto detectives have told the National Post that a group of unknown taxi drivers is stealing riders debit cards and cleaning out their bank accounts. The author of the story, Jake Edmiston, says the larceny has appeared at many banks with the TD alone reporting 65 claims. Complaints are occurring nearly daily, Edmiston reports The fraud relies on tired, busy or perhaps intoxicated riders who do not pay enough attention to their business with taxi drivers.
DEBIT CARDS STOLEN
Debits cards are taken by the rogue cabbies and replaced with bogus plastic. Detectives say the ring has stolen dozens of bank cards from bleary, late-night riders and emptied their accounts over the past month. One rider complained that $720 was taken from her account after a taxi driver gave her back a card with a different name and number on it. A bogus point-of-sale machine is employed to swipe data from a customer’s debit or credit card, then in a fast shuffle replaced with a fake card. Detective Beattie is said to believe there is a sophisticated back-end to this scheme with a number of people involved.
VIDEO EXISTS OF A CRIME
He told reporter Edmiston that there is video of a crime taking place. Police have it but are keeping it private for the moment. Christine Hubbard of Beck Taxi said it is ludicrous to think the scam has anything to do with taxis vs. Uber. “You know what, there is risk when using any kind of payment device,” she said. In fact, it seems reasonable to conclude such dishonesty underlines the need for strict taxi and livery regulations. It is another example of criminal activity in a field — including Uber — that is susceptible to such behaviour.
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Nut-case Kim triggers bomb because China disses girl band
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The exploits of Kim Jong UN-stable get crazier by the day. Now it is said he was prompted to set off (or try to) a Hydrogen Bomb because officials in China dissed his hand-picked girl band. The Chinese are furious but they look like fools for protecting North Korea for so long only to find their creepy nut-case client has turned on them.
Ward 16 meeting to hear revisions to 1912 Avenue proposal
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1912 and 1914 Avenue Road at Brooke Avenue
Ward 16 Councillor Christin Carmichael Greb is inviting residents to a community meeting to receive feedback on the revised development proposal for 1912-1914 Avenue Rd. The corner building at Brooke Avenue would be demolished and replaced with a five-storey complex. The matter has been referred to the Ontario Municipal Board and a date of February 24, 2016 has been set for that. In the meantime however, the Councillor’s meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at 6.30 at Armour Heights Community Centre at 2140 Avenue Road. Ms. Carmichael Greb says the developer will make a brief presentation which will be followed by questions and comments from the public. The development has been opposed by the South Armour Heights residents Association (SAHRA).
Curious Snowy Owl gives highway traffic camera a fly-by
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This thrilling picture of a Snowy Owl in flight has been captured by a Transport Quebec traffic camera along Montreal’s Highway 40. The image is a capture from a video in which the great bird can hardly be seen because of its speed. It was tweeted by employees at the highway department today (Thursday, January 7, 2015). The CBC quotes Barbara Frei, the director of the McGill Bird Observatory, that this young female was probably looking for a place to perch. The snowy owl is a large, white owl of the typical owl family. Snowy Owls are native to Arctic regions in North America and Eurasia. Younger snowy owls start with darker plumage, which turns lighter as they get old
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Red Mulberry health food store on Sutherland to close
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They’re showing a closing sign at Red Mulberry, the little health food store at the corner of Sutherland Drive and McRae Drive.