Mayor Rob Ford, who has admitted to smoking crack cocaine, will likely not face charges as a result of Project Brazen 2, CTV News has learned.
Though police insist the criminal investigation is ongoing, CTV News has learned that at this time, there is no evidence to warrant charges against the mayor.
This latest development comes on the same day the Ontario Provincial Police has announced it is stepping aside from its oversight role.
Sgt. Pierre Chamberland told CP24 that for the time being, their role in the investigation is done.
The OPP will assist Toronto police if new information comes forward and if there is a request for assistance, Chamberland said.
Ford told reporters he believes this means he has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
"I know I did nothing wrong. I knew the day was going to come that I’d be cleared and I guess today’s the day," Ford told reporters.
However, Toronto Police spokesperson Mark Pugash told CP24 that police have yet to close the case.
"Project Brazen 2 is an ongoing criminal investigation," he said. "When it's concluded, we will figure out next steps."
Even Ford's lawyer was hesitant to say his client was in the clear.
Dennis Morris told CP24 that Toronto police still haven't declared the investigation over and until that happens, anything can happen.
"Police have single-mindedly focused on the mayor's actions," he said. "They're trying to embarass and humiliate him. It's absurd, this whole investigation."
The criminal investigation started after police intercepted phone conversations between suspected gang members who were discussing a now infamous video of the mayor smoking from a glass pipe.
Ford's friend Alexandro 'Sandro' Lisi has been charged with extortion in connection with his alleged attempts to retrieve the video. Lisi also faces drug-related charges in connection with the investigation.
In a document used to obtain search warrants, police detailed the exhaustive surveillance techniques they deployed on the mayor and Lisi.
OPP disagree with Toronto police
Meanwhile, the Toronto Star reported Thursday that the OPP detective who was tasked with overseeing the investigation into Ford is at odds with Toronto detectives over who was the victim of extortion – the alleged gang member who filmed Ford smoking from a glass pipe or the mayor himself, the Toronto Star reported Thursday.
Toronto police are handling the case and they believe the victims of an extortive attempt were the man who recorded the one-minute video and a second alleged gang member, but the OPP detective contends that the man who filmed Ford may have tried to extort money from the mayor, according to a Star report that quotes anonymous sources.
In March, Toronto Police Chief Blair confirmed the OPP had taken an oversight role at his request. Blair, who was verbally attacked by the mayor and his brother, Coun. Doug Ford, made the move after critics argued the case should be handled by an outside police agency.
Ford declined to say if he was the victim of extortion and he refused to answer questions from reporters about his friend Alexander Lisi.
Meanwhile, Coun. Doug Ford, Rob Ford's brother, said he doesn't know if the mayor was the victim of extortion.
"I don’t know 100 per cent. I guess the police know that better than we would know," Doug Ford told reporters.
He thanked the OPP for "doing a proper job."
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne declined to comment on the specifics of the report.
“I have a lot of faith in our police forces and I’m sure they will find a way forward," she said at an event in Toronto.
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