An unmarked Toronto police vehicle collided with two individuals on a scooter during a 2024 operation in Whitby. Jon Woodward reports on the concerns raised about the incident.
An Ontario judge has dismissed evidence following an unusual takedown near a Canadian Tire in Whitby, Ont., where surveillance footage captured a police officer abruptly driving his unmarked car into two people riding a scooter.
Four sets of surveillance videos depict the duo being thrown off the scooter. The officer then exits his vehicle and chases one individual through the Garden Centre. The other person rushes to grab what seems to be a dropped gun, only to be struck again by another police car, getting caught between them.
It was revealed in court that this takedown began due to a misinterpretation of a comment over the police radio – everything went wrong – and it ultimately led to an assault conviction for that Toronto officer.
Evidence tossed Video evidence was tossed after a takedown near a Canadian Tire in Whitby, Ont., saw an unmarked police car slamming into two people riding a scooter.
“I think maybe the cops watch too many crime movies,” said former Toronto Mayor John Sewell, who is currently with the Toronto Police Accountability Coalition.
“The cop thought he was doing something reasonable – I mean, maybe he didn’t think at all,” he stated.
This all took place on June 25, 2024, when a group of Toronto officers visited a mall plaza with a Canadian Tire looking to arrest Trayvon Palmer, who was wanted for breaching his bail conditions.
The team spotted him riding an electric scooter alongside another man, Paul Lewis. That’s when one officer said over the radio, “We should block them in and take them right now.”
Const. Joshua Baksh interpreted that as instructions to accelerate his unmarked vehicle toward the moving scooter, sending both riders airborne.
Palmer fled while Baksh pursued him through the garden centre. Meanwhile, Lewis ran in another direction and lost control of his gun when he got hit by the second vehicle.
Const. Joshua Baksh Const. Joshua Baksh, seen in orange in the video, can be seen chasing after the suspects through the garden centre at Canadian Tire.
The video shows Lewis being arrested as paramedics load him into an ambulance due to severe injuries requiring hospital care.
He suffered spinal and rib fractures among other injuries, according to his lawyer David Campos. Campos contested the gun charges based on Canada’s Charter of Rights arguing that Lewis faced arbitrary and dangerous force while being unlawfully detained.
“He was not a suspect, not wanted, not observed committing crimes,” said Campos. “He should never have had to deal with being run over by a 4,000-pound vehicle used as a kinetic weapon.”
It came out that Lewis violated his bail by being outside without surety present. The judge dismissed the gun evidence effectively clearing Lewis except for failing to comply with bail conditions.
The Crown dropped charges against Palmer. Baksh faced charges from the Special Investigations Unit and pleaded guilty to assault.
“As this matter is before the courts, any internal disciplinary issues will wait until criminal proceedings are finished. The officer continues working at TPS but in a non-public-facing role,” stated the Toronto Police Service.
Through their association, Baksh chose not to comment.
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Const. Joshua Baksh Const. Joshua Baksh, seen in orange in the video, can be seen chasing after the suspects through the garden centre at Canadian Tire.
The video shows Lewis being arrested as paramedics load him into an ambulance due to severe injuries requiring hospital care.
He suffered spinal and rib fractures among other injuries, according to his lawyer David Campos. Campos contested the gun charges based on Canada’s Charter of Rights arguing that Lewis faced arbitrary and dangerous force while being unlawfully detained.
“He was not a suspect, not wanted, not observed committing crimes,” said Campos. “He should never have had to deal with being run over by a 4,000-pound vehicle used as a kinetic weapon.”
It came out that Lewis violated his bail by being outside without surety present. The judge dismissed the gun evidence effectively clearing Lewis except for failing to comply with bail conditions.
The Crown dropped charges against Palmer. Baksh faced charges from the Special Investigations Unit and pleaded guilty to assault.
“As this matter is before the courts, any internal disciplinary issues will wait until criminal proceedings are finished. The officer continues working at TPS but in a non-public-facing role,” stated the Toronto Police Service.
Through their association, Baksh chose not to comment.
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