Violent gang member granted leave to attend father’s visitation in Toronto

A local business owner is raising concerns after Tyshan Riley, a high profile gang member who is serving a life sentence for first degree murder, was granted temporary absence to attend his deceased father’s visitation in west-end Toronto last Thursday.

At approximately 3 p.m. Thursday, Emma Michael said she noticed heavy police presence in the St. Clair Ave. West and Dufferin area.

“There was cops everywhere. You had SWAT teams around the corner. You had a group of cops in a full getup,” Michael said.

Michael said there were approximately 20 officers in the surrounding area and when she asked them what was happening she was told they couldn’t comment. Sources confirmed to Global News police were escorting Riley to his father’s visitation.

“This felt more like a lockdown situation,” she said. “It was odd because nobody here knew what was going on and no one was going to comment.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "This felt more like a lockdown situation," she said. "It was odd because nobody here knew what was going on and no one was going to comment."

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Riley was once the leader of the notorious Toronto street gang the Galloway Boys and in 2009 he was sentenced to life in prison for the shooting death of 31-year-old Brenton Charlton.

“It’s surprising to know the amount of resources that go into chaperoning somebody to a funeral,” Michael said. “I’m not sure what the justification there is.”

Charlton was killed in a drive-by shooting in March 2004 – the innocent victim of a gang war in Toronto’s east end.

Prosecutors successfully argued that 26-year-old Tyshan Riley, 26-year-old Phillip Atkins, and 23-year-old Jason Wisdom were all members of the Galloway Boys and that they shot up Charlton’s SUV in the mistaken belief it belonged to the rival Malvern Crew.

The three men guilty of numerous charges, including first-degree murder and attempted murder.

READ MORE: Who are the Galloway Boys?

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Kathleen Wynne were asked about Riley’s temporary absence at an unrelated event on Tuesday but both were reluctant to comment on the situation.

“I have a high degree of confidence in our justice system and I think it’s extremely important federal politicians and politicians in general don’t meddle with the processes of our independent judiciary,” Trudeau said.

“Of course, there is always room to reflect moving forward on improvements that can or may be made but I’m not going to second guess the choices of our independent judiciary.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Of course, there is always room to reflect moving forward on improvements that can or may be made but I'm not going to second guess the choices of our independent judiciary."

Wynne echoed Trudeau’s thoughts saying it “is not a healthy or wise thing for politicians to second guess the justice system and I have a lot of faith in the judiciary to make the right decisions.”

Correctional Services Canada said temporary absences are meant to “encourage offenders to maintain family and community ties with the goal of safely reintegrating them into the community as law-abiding citizens.”

“Compassionate TA’s are used to ensure the humane treatment of offenders by providing access to health care and time for offenders to be with seriously ill family members or to attend funerals,” said Jean-Francois Cusson, spokesman with Correctional Services Canada.

Between 2014 and 2015, Correctional Services granted over 96,000 temporary absences.

With Files from The Canadian Press.