Victoria Silman | Assistant News Editor
Featured Image: On September 19, Toronto Police Services responded to a call of a dangerous individual on campus. | Fatema Ali
On September 19, Toronto Police Services (TPS) responded to a call within the Student Centre concerning an individual who the university deems a threat to the community.
In a police report provided by TPS Media Relations Officer of Corporate Communications, Constable Jenifferjit Sidhu, the call was placed by the university for a man who was wanted on campus. The man in question is known to have a history of violence, harassing students, and carrying weapons.
According to the report, the man was seen with a weapon. TPS responded to the call with a concern for public safety. The man was arrested, and at the time of the report, had been charged and held for a hearing that day.
In response to the arrest, the YFS released a public statement accusing TPS and York Security of overstepping their limits during the arrest, and racially profiling a black community member.
The statement reads: “TPS barricaded and entrapped a Black community member in the First Student Centre. After surrounding the community member, they proceeded to tackle him to the ground and further surround him.
“This incident has only further proved the harmful impact that TPS has on racialized and Indigenous bodies, on and off our campuses. The York Federation of Students condemns the way the TPS responded to this incident,” it continues.
Constable Sidhu responded to the statement, explaining: “You need to know the facts before issuing that statement. From what I have access to, he is an extremely violent man who has threatened multiple people—when I say multiple, we’re looking at over 30 incidents.
“Police have been there because of him on behalf of the university contacting us because he is that aggressive.”
Samina Sami, executive director of community safety, clarifies: “TPS was called to assist York’s Security Services regarding an individual that has repeatedly been known to be a community safety risk. I can confirm this person is not a community member, but is known to York Security Services, some community members, the Student Centre management and team, and to the police.
“The university and the Community Safety Department takes racial profiling very seriously, and we would never target someone. We appreciate that this situation involves a Black man and that racial profiling is a serious societal issue. We would encourage the YFS to speak to the Student Centre management team and to the Community Safety Department,” Sami continues.
In response to incidents within the Centre, earlier this year the Student Centre requested assistance from York Security to implement a policy that closes off the Centre to the public between midnight and 6 a.m.—only those holding access cards are permitted to enter the building at those times.
According to Sami: “The respective roles were set out in the Memorandum of Understanding, and this MOU referenced how we work together to enforce the policy while balancing a humane and community-centric response.”
The YFS could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.
