The Toronto Police Service has confirmed that the 29-year-old man who was arrested after threatening to shoot Toronto’s mayoral candidates has been released on bail.
On the morning of June 1st, Toronto police received a call reporting a man brandishing a firearm and making threatening remarks to shoot unspecified mayoral candidates.
The police arrived at the scene and arrested Junior Francois Lavagesse, a Toronto-area rapper who had been previously convicted on a number of charges, including sexual assault.
The threat against Toronto’s mayoral candidates caused some of the race’s leading contenders to temporarily suspend their campaigns and public appearances, including Brad Bradford and Olivia Chow.
However, Toronto police announced that Lavagesse has been released from his incarceration after being charged with two counts of dangerous weapons, carrying a concealed weapon, uttering threats and failure to comply with a recognizance.
Some of Toronto’s mayoral candidates are pointing to this incident as being emblematic of Canada’s weak criminal justice system needing reform.
The guy who made threats against the mayoral candidates last week is out on bail. Again.
— Mark Saunders (@marksaunders_TO) June 7, 2023
Of course he is. pic.twitter.com/g6zcekaHTc
Mark Saunders posted a video to Twitter criticizing the Canadian judicial system for allowing a dangerous criminal back onto the streets so quickly after they’ve offended.
“This speaks to bail reform and all of those issues that I’ve been trying to look after from being the chief of police, right up to now,” said Saunders.
“That’s a problem with our justice system.”
Another dangerous offender released by the courts back on our streets.
— Brad Bradford✌️ (@BradMBradford) June 7, 2023
As Mayor, I will work with Toronto Police to create Bail Compliance Units across our 17 Divisions to keep tabs on them.
With less talk and more action, we can make Toronto safe and stop the bail fail 👇 pic.twitter.com/0YNcrywqTV
Bradford took to Twitter to say that Lavagesse’s release is “emblematic of a story that happens time and time again across the city.”
“Violent offenders are out on bail in our communities and there are very few checks and balances to keep folks safe.”
Bradford reiterated his campaign promise to create a bail compliance unit consisting of 68 additional police officers across the city’s 17 divisions to enforce bail conditions.
As previously reported by True North, in 2013, Mr. Lavagesse had received a $1000 microgrant from the City of Toronto through the “Arts for Children and Youth” fund, as Lavagesse became a rapper under the stage name “Jae Legit.”
“Jae Legit” received fawning media coverage from the Globe & Mail, dedicating an entire profile to Lavassage. The G&M promoted the rapper’s music on SoundCloud and his plans to make a leadership development program.
