Toronto police issue public safety alert after ‘suspicious’ incident involving kids at Withrow Park

Toronto police are asking the public for help in identifying a suspect who allegedly gave papers with sexual messages to children at Withrow Park.

Toronto have issued a public safety alert after a suspect allegedly distributed papers containing sexual and other inappropriate messaging to children in an east-end park.

Last Thursday, police were called to the Riverdale area, specifically Withrow Park, at Logan and Danforth avenues, for reports of a suspicious incident.

The suspect, they said, fled the area.

Parents of the children had called the police.

The suspect is described as a male, standing six feet tall and 30 to 40 years old with a thin build and a short brown beard. He was last seen wearing a black hooded jacket and a black and grey crossbody bag.

Speaking with CP24 on Sunday afternoon, Const. Stephanie Miceli said police are asking for the public’s help to identify the suspect in this “suspicious” incident, which she said involved several children in the late afternoon after school had ended for the day.

“We know that the public is critical in investigations like this so we’re just hoping people can take a look at the photos, and if you recognize this man please contact 55 Division with any information,” she said.

“The park was busy and we’re just hoping that anyone that hasn’t spoken to police comes forward and gives any sort of information that may be helpful in moving this investigation forward and identifying this person, because police would definitely like to identify him as quickly as possible.”

Miceli added that this incident is “obviously … very concerning to parents and to us as police.”

This criminal harassment investigation is ongoing and anyone with further information is asked to contact Toronto police at 416-808-5500 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.