Toronto Police have launched a public appeal to identify a man suspected of distributing papers containing inappropriate content to children at an east-end park. The incident, which triggered alarm among parents, occurred on Thursday, December 21, 2025.
Manhunt in Withrow Park
According to authorities, officers were called to Withrow Park, near Logan and Danforth Avenues, following complaints from concerned parents. Police state that a male suspect handed out papers featuring "sexual and other inappropriate messaging" to kids before fleeing the area.
The suspect is described as a man between 30 and 40 years old, approximately 6 feet tall with a thin build and a short brown beard. He was last seen wearing a black hooded jacket and carrying a black and grey cross-body bag.
Investigators are urging anyone with information to contact Toronto Police at 416-808-5500 or to provide an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers.
Violent Weekend in the GTA
In a separate incident in the Greater Toronto Area, a man sustained serious injuries in a shooting in Oshawa. Durham Regional Police reported they were called to the area of Simcoe and Bond Streets late Saturday night or early Sunday for reports of an armed person.
Upon arrival, officers located a wounded man. He was transported to a Toronto-area trauma centre for treatment. The investigation prompted a significant police presence and a road closure in the area.
Additional Reports of Gunfire
Toronto Police are also investigating a shots-fired incident in Scarborough. Early Sunday morning, around 7:10 a.m., a motorist reported that someone in another vehicle opened fire on them in the Warden Avenue and Ellesmere Road area.
While no injuries were reported, police confirmed the victim's vehicle showed damage consistent with gunfire. Officers are searching for a silver SUV in connection with the case.
These events underscore ongoing public safety concerns in different parts of the region, with police investigations active in all three matters.
