Toronto Star identifies man it says showed reporters alleged Ford video

TORONTO – The Toronto Star is identifying a man arrested during last month’s Project Traveller raids as the person who showed two reporters an alleged video of the mayor smoking what could be crack cocaine.

The Toronto Star names 27-year-old Mohamed Siad as the man who showed reporters Kevin Donovan and Robyn Doolittle the alleged tape in the parking lot of 320 Dixon Rd. in May.

The newspaper and American website Gawker.com sparked a media frenzy when they published stories on May 16 claiming to have seen the alleged video.

Mayor Rob Ford has called the allegations “ridiculous” and his brother, Coun. Doug Ford says the mayor told him they were “untrue.”

And at a press conference a week after the allegations arose, the mayor said he does not use crack cocaine, nor is he addicted to crack cocaine.

Global News has not seen the video and cannot verify its authenticity.

Siad was arrested on June 13 at the same Dixon Road apartment building and charged with trafficking in firearms, unauthorized possession of a firearm, trafficking in cocaine and participating in a criminal organization among several other serious charges.

The Toronto Star also claims that since being in prison, Siad had to be segregated after being stabbed. Toronto Police confirmed the stabbing to Global News Friday morning.

The Project Traveller raids focused on a now-notorious gang based in north Etobicoke called the “Dixon City Bloods.”

The June raids were a coordinated effort between police in Toronto and several GTA municipalities including Halton, Peel, York, Durham, Guelph and Windsor.

In total, police arrested 28 people, seized dozens of firearms, more than $3 million worth of drugs and approximately $572,000 in cash.

Police refused to comment on the Project Traveller raids.