Matthew Campbell
Toronto Police need help finding a man wanted for violating probation, failing to appear in court and possession of cocaine.
The plea to find Matthew Campbell, 44, of Etobicoke is part of Toronto Police’s Catch-22 initiative.
Const. Sarah Diamond says Catch-22 Tuesdays are a great way to make the public aware of suspected people in their neighbourhoods.
Every Tuesday a person of priority is posted on the Toronto police website and in the Etobicoke Guardian to the public for information. The suspects range from facing 10 to 30 charges. The public can then report in via social media, text, phone or anomalously.
“It’s a mixture of people seeing these people in the paper and saying I know that boy or girl,” says Diamond, who adds suspects are usually in local communities. “Someone’s mom might see it and call them, and say that they are in the paper. Then the person may call their lawyer who would help them set up with us.”
Catch-22 Tuesdays started in February 2013 when 55 Div. Supt. Frank Burgen moved to 22 Div. who had a similar initiative. Diamond said the initiative has lead to over sixteen arrests.
Det. Patrick McGrade of 22 Div. says police choose the suspects to use in Catch-22 and issue alerts on social media, such as Twitter.
“We base it on the charges and the urgency of getting them off the street,” says McGrade. “Social media allows us a wider range.”
If you have any information, call Toronto Police at 416-808-2200, or at Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or online at www.222tips.com, or to text TOR to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook
