Ex-Ontario Attorney General Reported Arrested

[Dennis Ruhl]

I suppose leaving the scene of an accident was OK too?

Yes, of course it is.  Apparently Bryant called 911.  There was no attempt to avoid identification.

http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=1950650

Mr. Bryant was taken into custody at the nearby Hyatt Hotel after alerting police to his location, Sgt. Burrows said.

A woman in the vehicle with him at the time had also called police.

 

[COBRA-6]

That is perhaps the best one-sentence letter to an editor that I have ever seen. Please send it to a bunch.

If you don't want to, can I steal it for that purpose?

My first thought when I heard this on the radio this morning: "This is the a-hole who wanted to take my guns away..."

Be my guest  ;D

And as much as I dislike the former AG, I can see the original situation and the defence case at the trial unfolding much like Dennis Ruhl has alluded to... when I first read that the cyclist had held on to the driver's side of the car after an altercation I though "bike courier", and not in a good way.

 

[Scott]

Yes, of course it is.  Apparently Bryant called 911.  There was no attempt to avoid identification.

http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=1950650

Emm, didn't read the question asked of you, did you? Harris made a point about leaving the scene of an accident...after leaving who cares if the guy called 911.

Back to your old ways, eh?

 

[COBRA-6]

Emm, didn't read the question asked of you, did you? Harris made a point about leaving the scene of an accident...after leaving who cares if the guy called 911.

Fleeing an attacker is a very different situation than leaving the scene of an accident IMHO. Not saying that is what happened in this case of course...

 

[Kat Stevens]

I think once you've scraped the guy off like a wad of gum off your shoe, he pretty much ceases to be an attacker, IMO.

 

[vonGarvin]

He's been charged with a crime. It is now up to the crown to make and prove a case - otherwise he is not guilty.
It's up to the system to treat him judiciously until police, witnesses, lawyers, judges and jurors have done their work.

This is the best and most informed post of this discussion.

 

[Danjanou]

Ok because this is an ongoing police investigation and does involve a high profile public figure, lets heed the advice of our two elder statesmen OS and ERC and keep the grassy knoll theories to a bare minimum.

Otherwise we're going to be spending a lot of time moderating this thread and that will probably see it locked and deleted.

Staff

 

[Redeye]

He only left the scene by going a few metres into a parking lots, whereupon he was the one who made the 911 call.  This is a very strange story indeed.

I suppose leaving the scene of an accident was OK too?

 

[GAP]

There seems to be far more to this story than just a high profile figure smearing a poor little cyclist.....

Police had contact with cyclist before fatal crash
Updated Wed. Sep. 2 2009 8:22 AM ET CTV.ca News Staff
Article Link

A cyclist who was killed in a collision in downtown Toronto earlier this week was involved in a confrontation with his ex-girlfriend that brought police to her home less than an hour before he died.

Police arrived at a home where the former girlfriend of Darcy Allan Sheppard lived on George Street, just after 9 p.m. on Monday. Officers were reportedly there to deal with a disturbance of some type.

Toronto police Const. Tony Vella said officers escorted Sheppard away from the scene and there were no allegations of criminal activity.

Vella also said there were no indications that Sheppard was intoxicated, though neighbours have suggested he may have been drinking that night.

About an hour later, the 33-year-old Sheppard was involved in an incident with a car along a bustling stretch of Bloor Street West that led to his death.
More on link

 

[Greymatters]

Challenges the preconceived notions that some people had...

 

[vonGarvin]

I'm certain more and more info will come to light on this.  Let the system work, is what I say.

 

[Long in the tooth]

"In my opinion, they should have licence plates, like they used to. This way they could be reported for leaving the scene of an accident."

Yes!  That would certainly have stopped this cyclist from leaving the scene.....

 

[mariomike]

Yes!  That would certainly have stopped this cyclist from leaving the scene.....

Yes!  But, licence plates have been known to solve hit and run cases.....

It's a tough town. Even the TTC isn't always a safe bet. A guy torched a new bus today:
http://www.thestar.com/gta/crime/article/689818

This is another TTC bus:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpyFybGE-y0

 

[Roy Harding]

Christie Blatchford's take on the situation (as usual - I tend to agree with her):

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/in-a-city-of-drivers-and-cyclists-at-odds-the-one-on-the-bike-is-always-right/article1272873/

 

[Nfld Sapper]

I'm certain more and more info will come to light on this.  Let the system work, is what I say.

And some has (well maybe)


September 2, 2009
Cyclist may have grabbed Bryant, wheel: police
By CBC News

CBC News
Toronto police are investigating whether a cyclist killed in an altercation with a car driven by former Ontario attorney general Michael Bryant grabbed the driver or the wheel.
Toronto police are investigating whether a cyclist killed in an altercation with a car driven by former Ontario attorney general Michael Bryant grabbed the driver or the wheel.

Sgt. Tim Burrows said police have seized a number of video surveillance tapes from the stretch of Bloor Street where the confrontation occurred and are examining them frame-by-frame to confirm the accuracy of witness accounts that have suggested the cyclist may have been trying to get Bryant into a headlock and that the two may have been wrestling for control of the wheel.

Bryant, 43, who resigned Wednesday as CEO of Invest Toronto, is facing two charges, including criminal negligence causing death. In a prepared statement, the man once tipped by many to succeed Dalton McGuinty as premier said he is innocent.

Police also confirmed on Wednesday that Darcy Allan Sheppard, a 33-year-old bike courier, had an encounter with Toronto police hours before he died.

TIMELINE: Michael Bryant
Monday 9:45 p.m.: Michael Bryant becomes involved in an alleged altercation with cyclist Darcy Allan Sheppard, 33, while driving his Saab convertible on downtown Toronto's Bloor Street. Police say Sheppard then grabbed on to the side of Bryant's car as it drove off, fell and suffered fatal injuries.

Monday 11:30 p.m.: Bryant is taken into police custody.

Tuesday 2:20 p.m.: In a statement to reporters, Bryant expresses his "deepest condolences" to Sheppard's family but declines to discuss the incident and asks for his privacy. He also thanks those who contacted his family to offer their support.

Tuesday 2:30 p.m.: Bryant is charged with criminal negligence causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death.

Wednesday 1:10 p.m.: Toronto Mayor David Miller accepts Bryant's resignation as CEO of Invest Toronto, the city's business development agency.

Sheppard died Monday night after sustaining severe injuries following a confrontation with Bryant. It now appears Sheppard ? known as "Al" to his friends ? was involved in a dispute with his girlfriend earlier Monday and police intervention was required.

Officers had been called to the scene of a domestic dispute on George Street, near Jarvis and Gerrard streets, Monday afternoon, police said.

"I guess you could say it was concerns of a noise complaint or a domestic dispute. When police arrived on scene, they investigated. There was no indication a criminal offence took place," Staff Sgt. Kevin Guest told CBC News.

"At least one of the parties had been drinking, but was able to take care of himself and was released from the scene."

Police aren't confirming who lived at the address.

Alcohol possibly involved
One of Sheppard's friends, courier Ron Berard, said he'd been with Sheppard an hour before he died. Berard said he'd spent the day with Sheppard's girlfriend at their apartment.

Sheppard had been drinking, but wasn't drunk, Berard said.

"He might have had one. It didn't constitute any unruly behaviour," Berard said.

"It didn't ignite anything negative on his part."

Police would not comment on whether Sheppard was intoxicated because they're waiting for toxicology reports.

Cyclist left his bike
Bryant is said to have been dining at a restaurant with his wife, entertainment lawyer Susan Abramovitch, around the same time. The altercation occurred around 9:45 p.m., while they were driving home.

Police said they believe the incident was likely sparked by a minor collision in which it appears Sheppard's bike was damaged.

Witnesses reported that Sheppard left his bike after the collision and somehow hung on to Bryant's car. Bryant allegedly yelled at Sheppard to get off the car as it moved along Bloor Street.

Police said Sheppard sustained severe injuries after striking a mailbox and a tree while still hanging on to the car. The courier, who grew up in Edmonton, died later that night in hospital.

Investigators continue to review tapes and talk to witnesses as they come forward.

Burrows said Bryant had not been drinking. After spending a night in jail, Bryant was released under unspecified conditions on his own recognizance pending a court appearance Oct. 19.
Canadian Broadcast Corporation

 

[ArmyRick]

i have my opinions about this mess and I will keep them reserved for now. lets wait and see what happens. I'll bet I am right on this one.

 

[Dennis Ruhl]

At least we know why he was in Toronto - 61 warrants in Edmonton.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/edmsun/090912/canada/_he_died_doing_what_he_loved

 

[vonGarvin]

At least we know why he was in Toronto - 61 warrants in Edmonton.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/edmsun/090912/canada/_he_died_doing_what_he_loved

Perhaps.  But totally irrelevant to the case in question.

 

[mariomike]

I was under the impression that couriers had to be licenced?:
http://www.messmedia.org/messville/TO_LAW.HTM
Not so much for road safety ( although because they are paid by the call - ussually with deadlines to keep - rather than the hour, there is an obvious incentive to break the rules of the road.
Instead, I thought couriers had to be licenced because of bonding issues. Would anyone want to trust a package to someone with outstanding arrest warrants?
The Licencing Commission would have to do a backgroud check prior to issuing a courier licence.
Also, it is a pity that Toronto police did not arrest him the night they were called. But, this is just conjecture on my part. I don't know licencing or police policy in such matters.
Just my opinion.

Here is some more about licencing. Lots of talk, but it looks like it did not happen:
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/2006/agendas/committees/plt/plt060905/it018.pdf

 

[Dennis Ruhl]

Perhaps.  But totally irrelevant to the case in question.

While the bad cheque charges might not be heard by the jury unless it's allowed to establish a pattern of careless disregard for the law, details of his charges and convictions for violent offences certainly will be heard. If Sheppard were the defendant it is unlikely the jury would hear of past charges, but he is not.