The Toronto Police Service would like to make the public aware of three arrests in a violent robbery investigation and further charges.
It is alleged that:
- on Saturday, October 25, 2014, Monday, October 27, 2014, and Sunday, December 7, 2014, three women, 20, 19 and 28, respectively, were in west-end hotels, working in the sex-trade
- on all three occasions, a man knocked on the hotel room door
- when the women opened the door, they were rushed by three men, a girl, and another woman
- the group ransacked the rooms, assaulting the victims, and stole their personal belongings
It is further alleged that:
- on Tuesday, December 9, 2014, a 22-year-old woman was in a west-end hotel, working in the sex-trade
- a man knocked on the hotel room door
- when the woman opened the door, she was rushed by three men
- the group ransacked the rooms, assaulted the victims, and stole their personal belongings
- the woman was then sexually assaulted by two of the men
- police were called
On Tuesday, December 9, 2014, police arrested two men and a girl.
Lenford Richards, 20, of Toronto, is charged in connection with five robberies, with:
1) six counts of Robbery
2) six counts of Forcible Confinement
3) Weapons Dangerous
4) five counts of Fail to Comply
5) Gang Sexual Assault
He is scheduled to appear in court at 2201 Finch Avenue West, on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.
Kevin Baigorria, 22, of Toronto, is charged in connection with the first three robberies, with:
1) four counts of Robbery
2) four counts of Forcible Confinement
3) Weapons Dangerous
He is scheduled to appear in court at 2201 Finch Avenue West, on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.
A 17 year-old girl, of Toronto, is charged in connection with the first three robberies, with:
1) four counts of Robbery
2) four counts of Forcible Confinement
She is scheduled to appear in court at 311 Jarvis Street, on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.
It is also alleged that, during the arrest of Lenford Richards, a 29-year-old woman was being held by him against her will.
It is alleged that:
- on Tuesday, December 9, 2014, she was in an east-end hotel, working in the sex-trade
- a man knocked on the hotel room door
- when the woman opened the door, she was rushed by three men
- the group ransacked the rooms, assaulted the victims, and stole their personal belongings
- not having cash on hand, the group then demanded she make arrangements for someone else to attend with money
- the money was delivered, but she continued to be forcibly confined
Three people are still outstanding:
1) a black man, in connection with all five robberies
2) a white man, in connection with the last two robberies
3) a black woman, in connection with the first three robberies
The three arrested are being investigated for similar robberies of women in the sex-trade around the GTA.
Police believe there may be other victims.
Anyone with information, or victims of yet unreported crimes, is asked to contact police at 416-808-7350, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at
www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or
Leave A Tip on Facebook. Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.
For more news, visit
TPSnews.ca.