TTC investigating after fare inspectors hold down teenager outside streetcar (VIDEO)

Feb 22 2018, 12:30 am

The TTC is conducting an internal investigation after a video surfaced on social media showing fare inspectors and police holding down a young boy outside of a streetcar.

The video was taken on Sunday afternoon over Family Day long weekend by Beth McBride, who hopped on the 512 streetcar outside of St. Clair West subway station.

According to McBride, who sat near the back of the vehicle, there were two fare collectors on board.

McBride witnessed a young black boy, she said he looked about fifteen, getting off at Bathurst when he was grabbed by one of the fare collectors.

“I did not hear anyone ask him for proof of payment before grabbing him,” said McBride, who also saw the boy “shove” the TTC staff who grabbed him. “The two collectors proceeded to restrain him, take him off the streetcar and detain him on the ground.”

She said that one of TTC staff was wearing his backpack, which is seen in the video, and soon a crowd gathered around the stopped streetcar and the boy on the ground.

McBride said that in addition to the fare collectors, three police officers showed up and proceeded to “assist” in holding down the teen “who did not resist.”

The boy was was cuffed.

“He was screaming that he hadn’t done anything and that they were hurting him,” McBride told Daily Hive. “They held him down about twenty mins. More officers arrived they pulled him off the ground and took him towards the cruisers. He looked banged up, terrified and humiliated.”

The TTC says that it is concerned about the events leading up to this altercation and is taking the incident seriously.

“We are currently conducting an internal investigation, including reviewing video to determine exactly what happened and why, and we will take appropriate action where necessary,” said TTC spokesperson Stuart Green.

According to Green, when a radio call goes out from fare inspectors or special constables, Toronto Police are notified.

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