🚑 Breaking & Incidents
- SIU invoked after person fatally shot during Brockville search-warrant execution. The Ontario Provincial Police and its East Region Tactics and Rescue Unit assisted Brockville Police at about 8 p.m. when officers discharged a firearm; one person was taken to hospital and pronounced dead. The Special Investigations Unit has taken over the investigation and the OPP said it will not provide further information while the SIU probe continues.
- Southwold declares state of emergency after heavy rain and flooding. The Township of Southwold declared the emergency Friday as crews respond to flooding that closed sections of Burwell Road, McDiarmid Line and others; Environment Canada reported some areas had already received 50–100 mm of rain. Repairs begin Saturday at 6 a.m., emergency remediation is underway on Thomas Road and Fingal, and full restorations could take up to two weeks.
🚨 Crime & Public Safety
- Nearly $800,000 in stolen cargo and commercial vehicles recovered in Brampton investigation. Peel Regional Police recovered four stolen commercial vehicles and trailers on July 22 near Heart Lake Road and Countryside Drive and found two shipments of computer equipment valued at more than $680,000; the trailers were valued at about $105,000 and no suspects have been identified. Police say the computer equipment appears linked to separate thefts on July 17 and July 20.
- Three charged after firearms probe tied to Toronto police shooting that killed 19-year-old driver. Toronto police say a 23-year-old, a 19-year-old and a 17-year-old face 42 charges including occupying a vehicle with a firearm and careless handling; the Mercedes driver, aged 19, was shot and died at the scene after a collision with unmarked police vehicles and an SIU investigation was opened. Two firearms were recovered and the SIU has assigned multiple investigators and forensic staff to the case.
- Two 18-year-olds charged with first-degree murder in Salsa on St. Clair festival shooting. Toronto police laid 37 charges against two 18-year-old men in the July 11 shooting that left two men dead — 25-year-old Shaquan Quashie and 20-year-old Cesar Vernaza — and wounded seven others when roughly 13,000 people attended the festival. Police executed a search warrant near Weston and St. Phillips roads, seizing two firearms, narcotics and currency during the broader probe.
- RCMP seize more than $4.5 million in cocaine, three charged in southern Ontario operation. Officers say the trafficking investigation targeted the Golden Horseshoe and led to a July 8 search warrant at a Toronto condo; two men were arrested inside and a third nearby, and warrants in Hamilton recovered about $165,000 in cash and jewellery alleged to be proceeds of crime. The accused are a 39-year-old and 38-year-old from Hamilton and a 41-year-old from Brantford.
- Ride operator charged after alleged sexual assault of girl at Vaughan amusement park. York Regional Police say the alleged assault occurred in late May while the girl boarded a ride and a 19-year-old man from Brampton has been charged with sexual assault and sexual interference; investigators say there may be other victims and are asking anyone with information to contact police.
- Dump truck driver from Brampton charged with impaired driving after swerving into oncoming traffic. Ontario Provincial Police say officers got a traffic complaint at about 1:15 p.m. Thursday about a fully-loaded gravel dump truck near Queen Street in Puslinch Township; a 27-year-old Brampton man was charged with operation while impaired (80 mg or more), had his licence suspended for 90 days and the truck impounded for seven days.
📰 Also Today
- Brockville Aquatarium welcomes three locally-born otter pups, increasing their otter count to eight.
- Artist turns extreme-weather anxiety into soft paintings, local exhibit details not provided.
- Canadian doubles star Dabrowski loses opening match at National Bank Open, exit reported.
- Cyclist hospitalized after collision with OC Transpo bus, hospitalization reported.
- Ottawa police say sexual-assault reports have increased, increase reported by service.
- Brampton Honey Badgers edge Ottawa BlackJacks in CEBL playoff, result reported.
- Montague Township reeve says residents deeply affected by human remains discovery, statement reported.
- Three-term Smiths Falls mayor Shawn Pankow will not seek re-election, decision announced.
- Police watchdog investigating death in Brockville on Thursday, SIU probe noted.
- Canada prepared to halt some booze bans for U.S. tariff relief, federal negotiations reported.
- Ottawa police projecting $21.6M deficit for 2026, cause listed as overtime and project costs.
- Gatineau Islamic centre reports weeks-long intimidation campaign, centre reported targeting.
- Nathan Rourke expected to start for B.C. Lions vs. Hamilton, start listed for Saturday.
