Rob Ford: a brief criminal history

by Jasun Singh, Centennial Journalism

1999: Ford is pulled over in Miami, and police find a joint in his pocket. He beats charges of marijuana possession and DUI, but he later admits that he was guilty.

2008: Ford is arrested and charged with assault and uttering a death threat to his wife, Renata. The Crown soon drops the charges because Renata’s story is found to be inconsistent. “I’m exonerated,” says Ford. “I’m not guilty. I’m just glad this is over.”

July 2011: Ford admits to driving while talking on his cellphone, but is not fined. “We are confident in saying the mayor has been reminded of the safety concerns and no further action will be taken”: police spokesperson.

December 2011: On Christmas morning police are called to Ford’s Etobicoke

home about a domestic dispute. 22 Division’s Youth and Family Violence Unit investigates, but lays no charges.

2012-2013: Ford is the subject of a civil suit against the City of Toronto, alleging that the mayor violated conflict of interest laws when he voted in council about whether he had to pay back donations he solicited using city letterhead. Ford loses in the Ontario Superior court and is ordered to resign, but appeals and wins. Ford feels “vindicated” by the decision. He stays in office.

May 2013: Ford is investigated by the city’s municipal licensing and standards department for sticking “Rob Ford Mayor” magnets on cars in a parking lot.

May 2013: The Toronto Star and Gawker reveal that some of their reporters have seen a cellphone video depicting Rob Ford smoking crack cocaine in a dark room, while saying racial and homophobic slurs.

May 2013: The Globe and Mail launches a report detailing the drug entanglements of the Ford family: Doug sold hashish in the ‘80s; Randy, another brother, was once charged in relation to a drug-related kidnapping; and Kathy, their sister, has been a victim of drug-related gun violence

May 2013: Ford ends several days of silence with a public statement: “I do not use crack cocaine, nor am I an addict of crack cocaine…. As for a video, I cannot comment on a video that I have never seen or does not exist.”

May 2013: The purge at the Mayor’s office begins: Ford fires Mark Towhey, his chief of staff. Ford’s press secretary, deputy press secretary, a policy advisor, an executive assistant, and a couple of special assistants subsequently resign.

June 2013: A major police drug raid, “Project Traveller,” happens in the early hours of June 13. Police arrest several men from photographs with Ford, as well as Mohamed Said, who originally showed the video to Star reporters. Bill Blair stays silent about the raid’s connection to Ford. Ford: “I can’t comment on something that I’ve seen or doesn’t exist, I don’t know how many more times I’ve got to say this. I’ve answered so many questions, I don’t know if you guys can’t get it through your thick skulls. Seriously?”

October 2013: Ford’s friend and part-time driver, Alessandro Lisi, is arrested as part of Project Traveller. Lisi tried to find the Ford crack video, and police surveillance videos subsequently show him passing mysterious packages to Ford. Surveillance videos also show Ford urinating in public and dumping liquor bottles.

October 2013: Bill Blair reveals that the Ford crack video is on police hands. Blair also reveals that Ford has been the subject of a police investigation for some time.

November 2013: Ford admits to having smoked crack cocaine: “Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine. But…am I an addict? No. Have I tried it? Probably in one of my drunken stupors, probably approximately about a year ago. I answered your question. You ask the question properly, I’ll answer it.” Ford refuses to step down.

November 2013: Two days later the Star reveals a video that shows Ford, visibly inebriated, ranting about someone and threatening to kill them. Ford apologizes for the video on the same day it’s released.

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More documents should be released from Toronto police investigation into Rob Ford: media lawyers argue in court