Police have Mayor Ford Video
TORONTO – Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has a steep mountain to climb. After completely denying that a video existed that reportedly showed the Mayor of Canada’s largest city smoking crack cocaine, Toronto Chief of Police Blair now has announced that the police have that video in their hands. The blockbuster announcement was made Thursday in Toronto.
Mayor Ford now faces a massive credibility issue. Police started an investigation in May, following allegations that Toronto Star reporters had seen the video that they stated showed the Mayor apparently smoking crack cocaine.
Project Brazen 2
Toronto Police have recovered a digital video file in which Mayor Rob Ford appears and have charged Alexander Lisi with extortion as part of the investigation. At a news conference at police headquarters on Oct. 31, Chief Bill Blair said significant evidence was seized during the year-long Project Traveller, primarily involving a criminal gang in the city’s west end, that led to 43 arrests, netted millions of dollars’ worth of drugs and resulted in substantial gun and cash seizures.
That project ended on June 13.
“There were indications during the course of that investigation of other criminal activity, not encompassed within the original Project Traveller mandate and, as a consequence, I directed that an investigation be conducted into information that we had received with respect to certain criminal behaviour to ensure that we left no stone unturned and that we did our job,” Blair said.
That investigation led to two arrests and drug-related charges.
“As a result of the evidence that has been seized on June 13, a number of electronic devices, including computers, telephones and hard drives were seized. They have been subjected to review and examination by members of our Intelligence Unit computer technology section,” Blair said.
“On Oct. 29, we received information that, in the examination of a hard drive that was seized on June 13, they were able to identify a number of files that had been deleted that they were able to recover. As a result, we are in possession of the recovered digital files relevant to the investigations that have been conducted.”
Blair said the files contain images that appear to be those that were previously reported in the media, with respect to events that allegedly took place at a home at Windsor Rd. in Etobicoke. As a result of the investigation and evidence gathered, Lisi was arrested and charged.
The Chief added that two of the several seized video files are relevant to the investigation.
“I will not get into what is on those videos,” Blair said. “….I think it’s fair to say, however, that the Mayor does appear in that video, but I am not going to get into the detail of what activities are depicted in that video. The right place for that evidence to be disclosed is in court.”
Mayor Ford has stated there is no reason for him to resign.
Chief Blair commented that he is disappointed in the Mayor.
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