NEWS RELEASE
YORK REGIONAL POLICE
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A 26-year-old man has been charged with dangerous operation and stunt driving after an investigation as part of Project ERASE.
Project ERASE is an awareness and enforcement campaign operated jointly by police services across Ontario, in partnership with the Government of Ontario, with the goal of eliminating street racing, stunt driving and other high-risk driving behaviours.
Officers in the Road Safety Bureau, working on the Regional Enforcement Priorities (REP) team, launched an investigation into a suspect after receiving information on a significant number of organized racing events across the Greater Toronto Area.
Through the investigation officers determined that the suspect was involved in more than a dozen street races and dangerous driving incidents, beginning in August 2021 through to March 2022, in York Region, Toronto and Peel Region.
On June 1, 2022, officers charged a Toronto man with multiple offences, including the charge of mischief due to shutting down streets for races and obstructing the proper use of the roads.
Charged:
• Farhan Chowdhury, 26, from the City of Toronto
Charges:
• Dangerous operation x17
• Stunt driving x10
• Mischief x2
Aggressive driving and street racing are dangerous, unlawful activities which put innocent people at risk of injury or death. The real finish line may be court, fines, jail, vehicle seizure, a loss of driving privileges or even worse, the hospital or the morgue.
Throughout the summer season as part of Project ERASE, the York Regional Police helicopter Air2, will be working with officers on the ground, watching for vehicles staging to race, vehicles travelling at excessive rates of speed and vehicles that do not meet safety standards. Street racers put themselves and unsuspecting road users at risk of death or serious injury when they choose to disobey traffic laws and drive without due care and control and with a disregard for public safety.
Call 9-1-1 if you see dangerous driving practices that could cause personal injury or loss of life. When contacting police, try to note the vehicle’s location, direction of travel, make, model, licence plate number and driver’s description.
This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police Road Safety Bureau REP team at 1-866-876-5423, ext.7703, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online.
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