A seemingly random act of violence unfolded in North York Wednesday evening, leaving a pedestrian injured and police searching for a suspect. The victim, walking near Yonge Street and Empress Avenue, was suddenly approached from behind and assaulted by a stranger.
The attack, occurring around 5:50 p.m., sent the victim to hospital with injuries that, thankfully, were not life-threatening. Investigators quickly focused on identifying the assailant, leading to a public appeal for information.
Cassim Cummings, a 33-year-old Toronto man, is now wanted for assault causing bodily harm. He is described as approximately 5’10”, 165 pounds, with a slender build, short black hair, and a distinctive black beard.
Meanwhile, in Markham, a brazen attempt to burglarize a home was interrupted by the resident. The incident occurred on November 18th, around 6:50 a.m., near Old Kennedy Road and Steeles Avenue East.
The suspect gained entry through an unlocked sliding door, but was immediately confronted by the homeowner and fled the scene empty-handed. Police believe this individual also attempted to break into at least two other nearby homes.
Nishanth Selvaratnam, a 26-year-old from Markham, was arrested on November 23rd and now faces charges including break-and-enter with intent and trespass at night. Authorities suspect additional victims may come forward, potentially leading to further charges.
A tragic hit-and-run in Vaughan claimed the life of a 62-year-old Toronto man Thursday evening. The pedestrian was struck by a transport truck at the intersection of Islington Avenue and Highway 7.
Despite the severity of the collision, the truck initially left the scene. However, police were able to locate the vehicle and driver in Etobicoke, near Steinway Boulevard and Steeles Avenue West. A 65-year-old man from Whitchurch-Stouffville now faces charges related to the fatal incident.
In a separate case, a sophisticated operation involving stolen cellphones has been dismantled by Hamilton Police. A warehouse operated by T Force Logistics in Stoney Creek was targeted in December and January, with thieves specifically focusing on Bell Canada cellphones.
Investigators, working with Bell Canada, traced the stolen devices to businesses in Oakville and Etobicoke. Searches revealed a staggering haul, including 183 stolen iPhone 16 Pro Max phones, valued between $250,000 and $450,000.
The investigation also uncovered $69,000 in cash, $34,000 worth of silver bars, and stolen SIM cards used to unlock the phones – all linked to a network of fraud originating from overseas scam call centres. Navjot Singh, 38, and Puneet Singh, 45, both from Oakville, are facing multiple charges related to the trafficking of stolen property and fraud.
