Friday, March 29, 2024

Timer

RCMP want info on 2 men seen behaving suspiciously near Rogers Centre

First Published:

[projekktor id=’22179′]
(Updated)

The RCMP is appealing to the public to help identify two men seen behaving suspiciously near Rogers Centre in late August. And while the national police force says there is no imminent threat to public safety, experts say this country needs to be more open about when the threat level is changed.

The RCMP want the publics help in identifying the two men. A passerby told private security about seeing the men on the John Street bridge near Rogers Stadium in the afternoon of August. 31 when a Blue Jays game was being played.

Police will not say what it is the pair was reportedly doing. That’s something security expert David Hyde says is routine. “So if someone does come forward with some information they can’t pretend to know all the facts that actually only the police or video cameras can tell us as to what happened.”

Photos of two men walking, one of them carrying a backpack, have been released. Both are described as between 22 and 30 years old, with a medium build.

“We want to speak with the two who were on the bridge to have the discussion with them, to determine what it was they were doing on the bridge that day” says RCMP spokesperson Lise Crouch.

Police maintain there is no imminent threat to national security.

The RCMP say working in partnership with the local police and private business sector is key to identifying unusual behaviour, which could be considered suspicious. “Its a significant help because police can’t have eyes everywhere.”

And a city like Toronto is full of private security companies. “In the most high profile locations the security people there are trained to spot concerning or suspicious behaviour” says David Hyde.

Canada has remained at a medium threat level for just over a year. But as citizens we are not immediately told when the threat level changes. “In Canada it’s an inwardly facing system. The only people that know are national security, police. But the average person doesn’t know when that level changes and I think they should.” David Hyde says he would like to see Justin Trudeau’s Liberals change the current policy so that Canadians are more aware of any changes to national security.

Then Prime Minister Stephen Harper was spotted at the stadium during the Blue Jays’ practice that day but police said that did not influence the response to the incident.

In speaking with security expert David Hyde he said the kind of behaviour we are talking about is something unusual. For example somebody going behind the building or around the side and taking photographs maybe looking for air intake vents. He points out that the two men were were in and around the Rogers Centre and the CN Tower and he says police have likely combed all the video footage from the various places and they may know more than what they are telling us.

More Top News

Ontario school boards suing TikTok, Meta, and Snapchat

Four of Ontario's largest school boards are suing the parent companies of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. The boards are alleging the social media platforms...

Evening weather forecast for March 28, 2024

Shelly Marriage shares the forecast for March 28, 2024 and the days ahead.

Experts warn drivers to be careful on eclipse day

Researchers from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto are warning drivers to beware in the hours before and after the big solar eclipse on...

Premier Ford rejects Ottawa’s bill of rights and protection funds for tenants

Premier Doug Ford is going along with the Quebec government in rejecting Ottawa's attempt to help renters. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave...

Hamilton mayor intends to use strong mayor powers for affordable housing

Residents and businesses near two Stoney Creek parking lots are disappointed after Hamilton mayor Andrea Horwath decided to use her strong mayor powers to...

Date set for inquest into death of man during Halton police shootout in 2018

A provincial coroner has set a date for an inquest into a man's death after a shootout with Halton police almost six years ago. Ahmadu...