We are dedicated to delivering police services, in partnership with our community,
to keep the City of Toronto the best and safest place to be. Visit our Web site at http://www.TorontoPolice.on.ca/ .
Man steals taxi, crashes into hydro pole
51 Division
On Monday, August 2, 2004, at approximately 6:30 a.m., a man committed a robbery near the Docks nightclub. The suspect stole a Beck Taxicab and small sum of money from the victim, the driver of the taxi. The suspect threatened that he was armed with a gun.
The suspect and stolen taxi were initially chased from the area by several taxi drivers who were alerted by the victim. The fleeing taxi was spotted in 55 Division by Primary Response officers who did not pursue the vehicle due to its dangerous manner in which it was being driven.
The stolen taxi raced at a high rate of speed west into the city.
The stolen taxi struck a moving car in the area of Bloor Street West and Avenue Road. The driver of the stolen taxi failed to remain at this accident and fled westbound on Bloor Street.
The stolen taxi then struck a second car in the area of Bloor Street West and Dufferin Street. The driver of the stolen taxi again failed to remain at this second accident and continued to flee westbound on Bloor Street.
The stolen taxi then struck a third car occupied by two young men from the Bloor west area. The driver and his occupant followed the stolen taxi and watched the taxi crash into several parked cars and a hydro pole.
These witnesses saw the stolen taxi burst into flames while the driver was trapped inside. They immediately smashed out the window and pulled the driver from the burning taxi and held him for the arriving 22 Division officers. The driver of the stolen taxi suffered minor injuries.
The crash caused a power and water outage in this area of 22 Division and some of the surrounding roads in this area remain closed.
The arrested person has been identified as Matthew James Macfarlane, 25, a Federal Parolee wanted by Correction Services Canada on an outstanding apprehension warrant.
Macfarlane has been held in custody at 51 Division and will appear at 10 a.m. in room 101 of College Park Courts.
Macfarlane is charged with twelve Criminal Code offences, two Drug Offences and one Federal Parole Offence.
His charges are Robbery, Theft over, Property obtained by Crime (over), Four counts of Dangerous operation, Three counts of Failing to Stop after accident, Common Nuisance, Mischief interfere with property Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Controlled Substance sched. III.
PC Kristine Bacharach, Media Relations, for Detective Constable Tam Bui
