TORONTO – Police have charged former Ontario attorney general Michael Bryant with criminal negligence causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death after a collision Monday night that left a 33-year-old man dead.
"We have enough information to substantiate the charges," in the accident that caused the death of Darcy Allan Sheppard, said Toronto Police Services Sgt. Tim Burrows.
Bryant has been released with conditions and is slated to be back in court on Oct. 19.
Speaking in Toronto Tuesday afternoon, Bryant offered his "condolences to the family of Mr. Sheppard."
"To all of those who have offered support to my family over the past 12 hours, thank you. May I ask that the media to continue to respect my family’s need for distance and privacy for the next few days. Thank you," Bryant added.
Sheppard, a bike courier, died in hospital late Monday night from injuries sustained after hanging on to the side of a convertible for about 100 metres before falling to the street.
Burrows said the investigation is focusing on three elements – an initial altercation between the driver and the cyclist, a "minor" collision between the two and what led to the death of the victim.
High-profile Vancouver lawyer Richard Peck was observed entering the Old City Hall courthouse in downtown Toronto Tuesday morning. A source indicated that Peck flew to Toronto overnight and would be named as the independent prosecutor in the case.
Traffic Services Const. Hugh Smith said earlier the altercation began at about 9:45 p.m., near the corner of Church and Bloor streets and carried on west to Avenue Road.
"There was some verbal altercation and there was some minor contact," said Smith. "At some point the cyclist became attached to the vehicle without his bicycle."
Bryant was taken into custody at the nearby Hyatt Hotel after alerting police to his location, Burrows said.
A number of witnesses have spoken to police regarding the incident along the busy stretch of Bloor Street.
Police say they have reviewed a number of independent videos shot, as well as footage from at least two security cameras that place the victim and suspect together.
"Apparently it was viewed by many witnesses," said Smith.
Sheppard was out with fellow couriers until about 8 p.m. on Monday night and then indicated he was going to ride home, said courier Ron Berard – who was outside the Old City Hall courthouse Tuesday.
"I was devastated," said Berard, when he learned what had happened last night.
Berard added that he is worried there will be an attempt to blame the victim, because he was a bicycle courier. Sheppard was described by Berard as someone who would keep his temper under control even if cut off in traffic by a vehicle.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said Tuesday: "My thoughts are with the family and friends of the gentleman who lost his life.
"With respect to the case itself, I think the best thing to do in the circumstances is to allow the investigation to unfold."
He also added it: "is very tragic how events that unfold inside a minute can have such a profound impact on peoples lives. . ."
It is very common for the Crown to consent to release on bail when an accused is charged with a driving offence and has no criminal record.
Bryant, 43, resigned from his Toronto MPP seat in June while serving as minister for economic development and joined Invest Toronto – an arms-length agency aimed at marketing the city as an attractive place for business and industry to set up shop or expand.
Bryant graduated magna cum laude LLM from Harvard Law School, was a Fulbright Fellow, and was first elected to Queen’s Park in 1999.
During his time in Ontario’s legislature, he served as aboriginal affairs minister and minister of economic development.
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