James Regan, 62 years old, recently surrendered to police a day after being charged with assault. Regan has previously been accused of neglecting to pay rent while living in several high-end apartments in Toronto over a few years.
On Sept. 24, at 5:30 p.m., Toronto Police Service (TPS) officers responded to a call for an assault in the Avenue Road and McMaster Avenue area. According to the police report, a 56-year-old female victim confronted a male suspect over a civil matter, and the suspect became enraged and punched and kicked the victim. The victim was taken to hospital.
According to constable Caroline de Kloet, corporate communications officer with TPS, James Regan turned himself in at 53 Division, at 75 Eglinton Ave. W., at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 22, and was scheduled to appear in court at 2 p.m. that day.
Constable de Kloet confirmed that he is the same James Regan involved in several legal disputes over unpaid rent in Toronto.
According to Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board documents, Regan had been living in the upstairs apartment of the house at 290 Avenue Rd. since July and had not paid any rent. His monthly rent was supposed to be $2,500.
Regan appealed the board’s order to pay the landlord $8,712.19 in outstanding rent monies and legal fees, but the appeal was overturned by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on Nov. 16.
The court ruled sheriffs, of the Court Enforcement Office, ensure the premises be vacated after Nov. 18.
Constable de Kloet said sheriffs were present at the house on Nov. 22. “We [TPS] got involved because there is now a criminal aspect to it, before it was [between] landlord and tenant,” she said.
Court documents show Regan has also owed other landlords thousands of dollars in outstanding rent fees.
Crime briefs
Toronto Police Service is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a male suspect wanted in an indecent exposure investigation. It is reported that on Nov. 10, at approximately 3:30 p.m., two teenaged female victims were walking in the Avenue Road and Glengrove Avenue area. They observed a male suspect standing next to a vehicle, committing an indecent act. The victims kept walking and did not engage with the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to contact the police.
A male suspect has been arrested after multiple Remembrance Day poppy boxes were stolen in Midtown. Between Nov. 5 and Nov. 12, a male suspect attended a number of retail stores in the Yonge Street and Lawrence Avenue to Yonge Street and Bloor Street area. The suspect is charged with stealing poppy boxes from the establishments. On Nov. 13, a 32-year-old suspect was arrested and charged with 10 counts of theft under $5,000 and nine counts of fail to comply with probation.
Toronto Police Service is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a male suspect wanted in a sexual assault investigation. On Oct. 20 at 7:50 p.m., officers responded to a call for a sexual assault at Spadina subway station. A female victim was walking in the pedestrian tunnel at the subway station when a male suspect approached and sexually assaulted her. He then fled down the pedestrian tunnel. A security camera image of the suspect has been released on the police website.
