Two men sent to jail for separate assaults on TTC Operators

Two men have received jail sentences for two separate assaults on TTC Operators.

On May 11, 2012, a male boarded a bus on Lawrence Avenue East, demanding a free ride.  When the Operator refused, the male attempted to punch the TTC employee, missed, and struck the protective barrier.  The male then verbally threatened the Operator. The suspect was arrested by officers from Toronto Police Service’s 43 Division.  Noel Alphonso, 45, pleaded guilty in court and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, on top of his 18 days in pre-sentence custody, for a total of 48 days.

On May 19, a male was verbally abusive toward the Operator of a bus on the 29 Dufferin route. The suspect grabbed the Operator’s arm, resulting in some bruising.  The suspect was arrested by officers from Toronto Police Service’s 13 Division.  Bobby Caranto, 32, pleaded guilty in court and received 19 days in jail on top of 11 days in pre-sentence custody, for a total of 30 days and a 1 year ban from all TTC vehicles and property.  Caranto had previously been convicted of a sexual assault in a TTC streetcar in 2011.

In both cases, the assaults were captured on the security cameras, which are on all TTC buses and streetcars, as well as on the new Toronto Rocket subway cars.

On average, two TTC employees are assaulted every day, ranging from punching, slapping and spitting, to threats of physical harm or death. The TTC’s Court Advocates work with Crown Attorneys and the Courts to secure the stiffest penalties possible for those convicted of assault on TTC employees, and continue to seek limits on the use of public transit in Toronto for those convicted of these crimes.