One of the two suspects wanted in a hit-and-run that left a toddler and two women injured in Scarborough last month has been charged by Toronto police.
Officers with 51 Division arrested 40-year-old Jeremiah Cook Thursday night.
Cook was allegedly the passenger in a vehicle that struck the trio in the Pharmacy Avenue and Ellesmere Road area on Oct. 13.
Investigators alleged Cook then abandoned the vehicle after the incident. That vehicle was found by police the following evening in the area of O’Connor Road and St. Clair Avenue East.
Thirty-eight-year-old Rodelyn Dewell and her 20-month-old son Daniel both received serious injuries. She had a broken leg and he suffered whiplash. Daniel was in a neck brace for approximately six weeks.
Dewell’s 58-year-old mother, who was also injured, had two broken legs.
“I’m trying to walk now. My right leg was totally broken,” Dewell told Global News, adding she’s still in pain and has a tough time sleeping.
Dewell’s husband, Brent Dewell, launched a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign to help with medical care-related expenses.
Police are still looking for the alleged driver of the vehicle, who was identified as 34-year-old Derek DeSousa.
Rodelyn said she had a direct appeal for DeSousa.
“We are still suffering. We can’t walk properly. It’s so hard all the pain — everyday. Please surrender. One day they catch you, I believe that,” she said.
“What you did to us, you need to pay. But for now, still hurt. One day we are going to forgive you, but not for now — we are still in recovery.”
Meanwhile, Cook was charged with obstructing police, failure to comply with a probation order, failure to stop/render assistance, two counts of failure to stop causing bodily harm and driving while under suspension.
He was scheduled to appear in court Friday morning.