Toronto police have laid charges against a 51-year-old man after five people around the province – including a federal politician – received threatening and harassing emails and phone calls.
In a news release Friday, police said the suspect has been “continually calling and harassing people via telephone.” Police also said the suspect emailed death threats and hate propaganda to a number of people.
“They were death threats and other latent threats that people felt he could carry out, so they called police,” Const. David Hopkinson told CP24. “I don’t know what the motivation might have been behind these death threats. It spans a number of different types of people, from politicians or public figures to other people in government or celebrities to regular people. It seems random.”
Charges were filed against the suspect after the politician – whom police declined to name – brought forward a complaint to police, investigators told CP24.com.
Police said the charges are in relation to alleged harassment that took place from October to the present.
“He seems to have a particular bone to pick with a number of our communities, some of our elected officials and regular citizens,” Hopkinson said. “We believe based on the type of threats he’s given that there will be other victims.”
Investigators said the threats were credible and that mental illness is not believed to be a factor in the case.
Police also said they believe there may be more victims and further charges could be laid. Hopkinson said the suspect is believed to have acted alone.
Rupen Balaram-Sivaram, 51, of Toronto has been charged with three counts of criminal harassment, three counts of uttering death threats and personation to disadvantage.
He made a court appearance Thursday.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-4200 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
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