Three Accused In Trial for Kidnap and Assault Case

In late March 2009, three young men allegedly entered an apartment on Murray Ross Parkway and assaulted two 19-year-old brothers, Michael Marian and Peter Marian. Kerrick Salmon, 23, Nicholas Salmon, 22 and Gregory Taylor, 19, all of Toronto, were accused of restraining Peter Marian and forcing Michael Marian to accompany them to Sheppard Avenue West, where they held him for ransom.

“Having a lifestyle influenced by rap music and music video culture, Taylor needed the money to finance this lifestyle,” said defence lawyer Dirk Derstine at Taylor and Salmon's trial on Tuesday.

Kerrick Salmon and Gregory Taylor who appeared in Ontario Superior Court have been charged on a variety of offences, including kidnapping, assaulting, extortion, possession of a firearm and drugs.

The jury heard about the details of the kidnap in the opening argument of Derstine.

Michael Marian was taken from his apartment by ten male intruders. He was first transported to a residential apartment by car and held for approximately two days. During this period there were ongoing negotiations for the release of the victim between the kidnappers and the Marian family.

Then he was taken to a townhouse at Jane Street and Shepphard Avenue, a ransom of $35000 was negotiated for the release of the victim. Michael Marian was freed at the exchange site.

The police inspected the townhouse several hours later and found the three accused men. They also allegedly found a handgun and quantities of marijuana and cocaine.

“Salmon deserves an Oscar award,” said Crown Attorney Sheila Cressman when referencing to the testimony he gave earlier. “Michael Marian might not have identified Salmon as one of the kidnappers, but how do people who have undergone such dramatic incidents be able to give fair comments?”

Cressman continued to describe photographs taken of the townhouse after the police raided the residence.

She mentioned a number of condoms lying on the floor, including empty condom wrappers. She suggested that it was left by someone who was in a hurry and did not care about what was on the ground.

The temperature of the townhouse was freezing when the police arrived there, the windows of the bedrooms were left open. Cressman said this was why Michael Marian was cold and kept shivering when he was released.

Also found at the townhouse was a 42-inch Samsung TV which belonged to the Marian family and Michael's wallet which contained his driver's licence and health card.

She refreshed the jury's memory of Michael Marian's testimony. He mentioned being directed from behind while walking towards Jane Street and Shepphard Avenue. He also described his experiences of being tortured and assaulted when he was captured.

Michael was forced by the kidnappers to talk to his family on the phone. He recalled the kidnappers saying to each other, “Tell this fucking cockroach to beg him.” Throughout his phone call he had a gun pointed at him.

Wounds and bruises covered Michael Marian's body after the incident, Cressman said this was clearly caused by assaults during the two days of the kidnap.

Cressman also described the situation of Peter Marian who was restrained by the kidnappers.

“He wanted to do whatever he could do to get his brother back,” she said.

She mentioned that in Peter's testimony he said that “the 3 young men were not being completely truthful”.

“People living criminal lifestyles tend to keep information to themselves,” said Cressman.

In defence of the accused, lawyer Dirk Derstine brought up the fact that the criminals were Canadian immigrants. He mentioned that Toronto being a multicultural city does not have the facilities for immigrants to find jobs corresponding to their qualifications in their hometowns.

“It is a good idea to ask us where we're all from, and to trace our roots to our forefathers and forebrothers,” he said. “Immigrants come here for a better life and they will be disappointed and resort to other methods to reap money if Canada does not have better institutions to provide them with jobs.”

The trial is ongoing and defence lawyer Nathan Gorham representing Kerrick Salmon has yet to present his argument.

Boy, 16 Shot in North York Identified

135 Neptune Drive, on the right is the stairwell that Tyrone Bracken was shot dead in.  (Photo Courtesy: Janice Yeung)

A 16-year-old boy shot dead in Northwest Toronto has been identified as Tyrone Bracken, a Grade 11 student at Sir Sandford Fleming Academy.

He was shot on Wednesday afternoon and was found lying in the west stairwell of 135 Neptune Drive at 4 p.m.

Neighbours called the police after hearing a sound of gunshots.

The community housing complex is situated south of Highway 401 and midway between Bathurst Street and Allen Road.

When located by police officers, the boy was suffering from an obvious gunshot wound

“He was pronounced dead at the scene,” said the Toronto Police Service in a news release about the incident.

Surveillance cameras were situated on the walls of the building overlooking the doorway of the stairwell.

Const. Tony Vella told The Toronto Star that the police were still looking at security footage from the building where Bracken was shot. They are currently looking for two to four men.

A nearby high school Sir Sanford Fleming Academy was placed in lockdown as the police searched for suspects after the incident.

“Our teachers told us about this when we went to school,” said Nikolay Semenov, a schoolmate of Bracken from the Academy. “I live in this neighbourhood too so my parents are worried about my safety, but we are not considering moving to another area anytime soon.”

His classmate Arianne Mae Destreza said that her parents expressed concern over her safety as a student in the area as well.

The flag was lowered to half-staff outside the main entrance of the Academy. Students gathered to sign on a poster board card to express their condolences towards the victim's family.

Bracken is the 53^rd homicide victim in Toronto of 2010. On Thursday, a day after the shooting, neighbours commemorated him by burning a candle at the doorway of the stairwell where he died.

“Residents are going through very hard times here,” said a neighbour of Bracken who wished to remain anonymous. “We are in the process of providing the whole community with counseling services. It has just been less than 24 hours since this happened and we are still in shock.”

He was with a group of residents at the parking lot outside the community housing block discussing about the impact of the incident and how they could give support to those affected.

“Imagine if your niece died and was shot by a gun, would you be okay with it?” he said emotionally.

It was not only the neighbours living at the building where Bracken was found dead who were shocked by the incident. A resident at 130 Neptune Drive, a residential building across the road from the community housing block, expressed safety concerns about living in the area. He was not willing to provide his name.

“We have been scared for several years,” he said. “This is not the first shooting incident, there have been several already.”

Residents in the area were unwilling to stop and talk, most passers-by were walking quickly back to their resident buildings.

Since the incident on Wednesday afternoon, 32 Division officers have been questioning residents door-to-door in surrounding apartment buildings and townhouses.

Students at the nearby Sir Sanford Fleming Academy were also questioned by homicide investigators the morning after the gunfire occured.

A group of Community Unit Special Constables for Toronto Community Housing was patrolling the complex on Thursday afternoon but denied giving any comments.

News of the fatal shooting spread through the community through media reports and word of mouth.

“I saw it on TV,” said Audrey, a resident on Neptune Drive. “It was shocking and scary to know that this happened in my neighbourhood. It is also really sad because the boy had a future ahead of him.”

She recalled images of seeing the victim's parents waiting in a bus shelter outside the public housing complex while the paramedics tried to save the fatally wounded teenage boy in a nearby stairwell.

“There has always been a lot of police cars driving up and down the neighbourhood, which is somewhat strange,” said Matthew Ferguson, a resident who just moved into 145 Neptune Drive in September. “I am surprised that this has happened in such a confined neighbourhood. Looking at society and how it operates, it is hard to enforce political changes which would improve the situation of these neglected communities.”

The police has not released any information regarding the motives behind the killing, number of shootings or weapons used in the incident.

Investigators are asking the public to assist in identifying any suspects.

Anyone with information are asked to contact the police at 416-808-7400. Those who wish to remain anonymous could call Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text "TOR" and your message to CRIMES (274637) or leave a tip on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TorontoPolice

View Tyrone Bracken Shooting in a larger map

“Grandparent Scam” Investigation results in Arrest of Suspect

The Peel Regional Police Fraud Bureau has just completed an ongoing investigation in a “Grandparent Scam”, also known as the “Emergency Scam”.

A 40-year-old man has been arrested and charged with a total of 39 counts of Fraud.

The suspect appeared at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton on October 27.

The investigation started in 2009 and continued until the end of October this year.

The scams have been conducted in similar procedures in several complaints to the Peel Regional Police.

The victims receive a phone call from the suspect, who claims to be the victim’s grandchild or relative. The suspect persuades the victim that they are in trouble and want money to be sent to them immediately. They then request money to be sent via Western Union without other family members knowing about the transactions.

“There are numerous victims who reside across Canada and in the United States,” said the Peel Regional Police in a news release about the arrest.

The Police also reminded the public to first call a real family member to verify the need for an urgent money transaction when they receive similar calls for help.

Anyone with information about similar fraud cases is advised to contact the Fraud Bureau at (905) 453-2121, ext. 3335.

Persons who wish to remain anonymous could call Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), by visiting their website at www.peelcrimestoppers.ca.

Space Crunch: Top Five Wasted UTSC Spots

Abandoned old Tim Hortons at UTSC"s Bladen Wing  (Photo Courtesy: Janice Yeung)

Lack of space at UTSC is an old and tired issue. But is the campus too small, or have we simply ignored spots which could be utilized better to allow for more space on our crowded campus?

“What is really lacking on this campus are informal places to hang out at,” says Michael Lambek, anthropology professor and Canada Research Chair at UTSC.

Since its establishment in 1964, UTSC has undergone a number of major changes to accommodate the growing number of students and faculty members, including the construction of several new buildings.

In 2002, the university initiated a giant capital expansion program. The following year, three new facilities opened: the Academic Resource Centre (ARC) which included expanded library facilities, a digital library and a 500-seat lecture theatre; Joan Foley Hall, an apartment-style building housing students living on campus, and the Doris McCarthy Gallery.

On UTSC’s 40^th anniversary in 2004, the campus celebrated by opening a brand new Management Building and a two-storey Student Centre. Most recently, in 2008 the campus welcomed the Science Research building.

Set to open in 2011, a new $78-million instructional centre at Military Trail and Ellesmere Rd. is currently being constructed.  It will host the management and computer science departments as well as the co-op program.

All these new buildings have allowed students of different faculties to have classes in buildings that represent their specific fields of study. More spaces for students to study in or simply hang out in are also beneficial to the overall experience of campus life.

However, does a campus expansion simply mean constructing more buildings? Have we fully utilized the spaces we already have at this school?

“The new building being constructed in the North Campus will cater to management students, but what about other people?” questioned Thembela Kepe, assistant professor of geography.  “Not everyone wants to cross Ellesmere Rd. to enjoy university life. Maybe a lot more is needed for the South Campus too.”

In this article, The Underground has scoured the campus for five spots that are a waste of space. Read the following list and see if you agree with us.

1.  The old Tim Hortons on the first floor of the Bladen Wing

The store has been closed since August 2008, and rightly so, since two new Timmies have opened since then: one at the pre-2005 location of the UTSC Bookstore in the ARC and another in the Meeting Place. If a business is closed down, it only makes sense to use the space for something else, or at least take down the sign.  The area could be used to open up a new food store which the campus is greatly deprived of, or at least accommodate a few benches for student buskers.

2.  The not-so-effective open concept of the library

The UTSC library has been constructed according to an ‘open concept,’ allowing students upstairs to observe what is happening on the first floor and reduce heating costs due to the free flow of air in between the two storeys. There have been obvious disadvantages to this though, since the noise students make on the ground floor can easily be heard by students upstairs, most of whom studying at the cubicles. This distraction makes it harder for students to focus. If the holes could be partially closed off, a lot more study carrels could be placed there. This could accommodate more students and also minimize the disturbances from people talking downstairs.

3.  The various parking lots

There are nine parking lots at UTSC: six within the main campus and the remaining three in the outer lots. UTSC is known to be a commuter campus, but our system of above-ground parking lots is ineffective. A better option would be for the university to invest in underground parking that could leave more space for the North Campus expansion.

“A lot of space is taken up by parking lots,” said Kepe. “The university could do a lot more in encouraging people not to drive and take public transport; this would create a lot more space for campus development.”

4.  The Valley Below UTSC

Accessible from Old Kingston Road, ‘the Valley’ consists of a baseball diamond where Varsity Blues baseball games are held. Apart from the stadium and a few tennis courts, the location is not being utilized except for the occasional UTSC Sustainability Office events where students are invited to learn about growing plants and food produce. The beautiful natural scenery in the area could also be used for educational purposes.

“One of the things I like about this campus is that there is a lot of nature around,” said Kepe. “As a geography professor, I want to use this environment to teach my students.”

We’re not implying that trees should be cut down to build more buildings, but access to the Valley can be improved and an outdoor soccer pitch or more student residences should be considered in further planning of this area.

5.  Portables outside the Science Research building

The portables outside the new Science Research building regularly house classes and offices for TA’s and sessional lecturers. The sight of these truck containers is not especially attractive, and most students who have written exams in the portables complain of the poor design and constricted enclosed space. The area occupied by the portables could originally have been used to build a sports field or a studio theatre.

“One of the problems that UTSC has is that sometimes it feels like nobody wants to be here,” said Kepe. “It feels like people want to come in and go. If the place was more vibrant and more attractive in terms of the space provided, students would want to spend more time here.”

But how long will it take before we see an improvement in space management on campus?

“Hopefully in the future there will enough space to accommodate students so that they can study in places they want,” said Philip McKeen, UTSC’s space planning officer.  “This takes time, however, because developing the campus is a process that occurs slowly.”

Fixing up the campus requires money, but most students are willing to financially contribute if they can see visible results.

“Creating more space can benefit the students and it is a good cause, I would not mind paying more of my tuition to support that,” agrees Ryan Wong, a second-year management student.

Last year, students voted to pay for part of the $170-million athletics complex for the 2015 Pan Am Games. As the campus gets increasingly crowded, we hope that the university makes use of the wasted space on campus before they decide to construct new buildings.

This article was originally published in the Underground (University of Toronto Scarborough Campus's official student news magazine) on Nov. 11, 2010.

Recent Robberies at Ellesmere Rd. and Military Trail - Residents and Students Warned About Safety

Intersection at Military Trail and Ellesmere Road  (Photo Courtesy: Janice Yeung)

A number of robberies have occured at the intersection of Military Trail and Ellesmere Road from Saturday October 16 to Sunday October 17. According to the Toronto Police Service, the victims were assaulted by a group of males. A weapon was involved in these assaults and minor injuries were resulted.

According to the Toronto Police, a 21 year old female reported that on October 17 at approximately 9:30 p.m., she was approached by a male suspect in disguise. The suspect then grabbed her arm and produced a knife. While holding the knife at the victim's waist, two other male suspects approached her. They removed her cellular telephone and pushed her against a fence, which caused her to fall to the ground. The suspects then left the scene eastbound on Ellesmere Road.

The Toronto Police is requesting the assistance of the public in identifying one heavily built male suspect and four thin male suspects who are all black with light complexions.

Residents in this community is advised by the Police to adhere to rules of safety. Pedestrians are encouraged to walk with a purpose and not to use earphones or headphones while walking as it would be hard to be aware of approaching people.

If in the most unfortunate case we become victims of a crime, we should call the police immediately to report the incident. When it is safe to do so, call the police immediately by dialing 911 in order to increase the chance of the suspect being stopped from further criminal action.

If we notice something suspicious happening such as unusual noices of a person screaming, sounds of fighting or glass breaking, we should also contact the Police.

As students of Centennial College, it is important to increase our own awareness of crime and stay safe within the College and in surrounding areas. Do not bring valuables, jewelry or large amounts of money to school if it is not necessary.

If we are working late at night on campus, try to work with a friend and let him know when we expect to leave. Also, try to park cars in well lit areas so it would be less dangerous returning to them late at night.

While walking outside, we should avoid using short cuts or paths that have dim lighting and may cause us to be obscure from the sight of other pedestrians.

We should also be aware of what is going on around us. If we suspect that we are being followed, we should indicate our suspicion by looking behind us. We could cross the street, change directions or vary our route. If possible, head to a place where there are more people.

When in suspicion, do not hesitate to go immediately to a phone and call 911.

This article was originally published in The Courier (published by the Centennial College Student Association Inc.)  on Oct. 28, 2010.