Ontario Premier Doug Ford says four masked suspects attempted to steal a car from his Etobicoke driveway early Tuesday morning.
“So four thugs come racing down my street, masks on, ready to take the car out of the driveway,” Ford said at an unrelated news conference in a self-described “rant” about Canada’s criminal justice system.
“Surprise, surprise at 12:30 (a.m.) the two police cars are there. The chase is on,” he recalled.
Ford initially said that the suspects, who he described as “stupid criminals,” were apprehended by his OPP detail. However, Toronto police clarified their officers made the arrests.
“Thank God the police got you and I never did,” he added.
In a news release issued following Ford’s news conference, Toronto police said officers were in the area of Lawrence Avenue West and Royal York Road at approximately 12:30 a.m. when they observed four individuals wearing masks in a vehicle.
They said the vehicle slowed down as it approached a driveway, at which point officers initiated a traffic stop and investigated the suspects.
One of the suspects fled on foot, but was located nearby. Police said officers located a car key programming device and a programmable master key in the vehicle.
Four suspects, including a 17-year-old and 16-year-old youth, were arrested and each charged with possessing an electronic device for motor vehicle theft and unlawfully purchasing an automobile master key.
The 17-year-old suspect was additionally charged with resisting arrest and failing to comply with an undertaking.
Police said all four suspects were held for a bail hearing on Tuesday, but Ford said he expects they’ll be released.
“Guess what’s going to happen? They’re going to be back out,” he said. “I’m sick and tired of the weak justice system that we have. They have to get a backbone. We need to start throwing these people in jail. This is turning into a lawless society.”
On Tuesday afternoon, the two adult suspects were put under house arrest with conditions until their next court appearance on July 16.
