Toronto police officer among 11 charged in alleged anti-corruption investigation
A Toronto police officer is one of 11 individuals charged in a tow truck corruption ring; a total of 50 charges have been laid against them.
The Toronto Police Service allege that one of their own, Constable Ronald Joseph, was involved in a corrupt tow truck ring, alleging stolen police radios gave drivers access to secret broadcasts for a fee.
In August 2019, Toronto police initiated an investigation into the theft of encrypted radios.
Police say that several tow truck employees from different companies were in possession of stolen police radios and they used the encrypted transmission to learn about and arrive at traffic collisions before other tow truck drivers for financial gain.
The information transmissions were then broadcast by one driver to other drivers for a monthly fee.
It’s alleged that at least one radio was stolen by the 47-year-old police officer.
Toronto police obtained search warrants, and arrests were made over the last two months with the assistance of York Regional Police and Ontario Provincial Police.
As the investigation unfolded it has been further alleged that three stolen radios (since recovered) are believed to have been stolen between February 2018 and December 2019 from the Toronto Police Service.
Toronto police also recovered radios and radio parts belonging to other unidentified organizations, as well as various radio parts used for cloning.
Six tow trucks have now been seized, and a loaded firearm has been recovered.
As previously announced, on Monday, June 15, the Toronto Police Service arrested and charged Joseph as part of this investigation.
He was immediately suspended from the Service.
Joseph was re-arrested on Thursday, June 18, and faces further charges including three counts of breach of trust, forgery fraud and other offences.
Ten others, including seven tow truck drivers, were also charged.
All are scheduled to appear in court at Old City Hall, on Friday, September 4, 2020, at 11 am.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-2800, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, online on their Facebook Leave a Tip page, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).
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