No arrests or charges for students behind prank, says 31 Division police
Toronto police say the abduction reported at York University on Wednesday was just a prank.
On Thursday afternoon, three male York students turned themselves in to the York Security Services headquarters, where Toronto Police officers were also present, and reported that the “abduction” was just a prank they were pulling on a friend, says Det.-Sgt. Al Coulter of 31 Division.
“I don’t think they intended any harm to anyone,” says Coulter. “It was a prank picking up a friend.”
Police were initially called to York’s Keele campus December 5 at 5 p.m. after a witness reported seeing a person being forced into a van near the Fine Arts building. Toronto Police issued news releases on December 6 at 11 a.m. and 12:50 p.m., requesting the public’s assistance in the investigation of a possible abduction.
No arrests or charges have been made in this case, Coulter says.
The first witness who reported the incident was not involved in the prank.
Joanne Rider of York media says the university is “extremely thankful” that an abduction did not occur.
“That said, we must note the serious concern that this incident needlessly caused to members of the York community and the significant resources that were expended to investigate and communicate the situation,” she says.
By Melissa Sundardas, News Editor
