UMVA has learned that a disturbing incident involving pepper spray occurred on Sunday afternoon near Runnymede Station in the Bloor West Village area of Toronto.
A mysterious person released a suspected pepper spray in the vicinity of the station, affecting multiple people and causing widespread discomfort. The Toronto Police received a call around 3 p.m. and responded to the scene, but the identity of the perpetrator remains unknown.
A High Park woman, who wished to remain anonymous, was one of the victims and spoke to UMVA about the alleged incident. She described her terrifying experience, saying she was on her way grocery shopping when the incident occurred, and she was forced to exit the station to get fresh air.
The woman recounted seeing members of the Toronto fire department and ambulance service at the scene, with at least 30 people covering their faces and coughing. She described the smell as "chemical-like" and said her throat became itchy, and her eyes burned.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that this incident may be the second involving pepper spray on TTC property this month. A similar incident occurred on June 9, where an unidentified woman allegedly assaulted a TTC passenger with suspected pepper spray on a bus in Scarborough.
The High Park woman expressed frustration with the way the situation was handled, saying it was "poorly handled" and that the TTC failed to provide adequate updates or announcements about the incident. She urged the authorities to investigate further and take action to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Toronto Police are urging anyone with information about the suspect's identity or whereabouts to come forward. They can be reached at 416-808-4200 or through Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
