Two men sent to jail for assaulting TTC employees

Two men received jail sentences in connection with two separate assaults on TTC employees.

On April 17, a TTC Route Supervisor was performing her duties at Bathurst and Lakeshore, when a male approached her and spat in her face and mouth for an unknown reason.  Toronto Police were called to the scene, and the suspect was arrested.

Ian Merkley, 59, had been charged 18 times previously for violating TTC By-Law No. 1. On April 25, Merkley was sentenced to six days in jail on top of nine days already served, for a total of 15 days.  He also received 18 months probation that includes a total ban from all TTC vehicles and premises.

In the second case, Arthur Ballard, 36, was sentenced to a total of 19 days in jail for an incident on April 17 in which a TTC streetcar driver was spat upon. Ballard was arrested by Toronto Police and was found to have four previous convictions for fare evasion under TTC By-Law No. 1.

On average, two TTC employees are assaulted every day, ranging from punching, slapping and spitting, to threats of physical harm or death. The TTC’s Court Advocates work with Crown Attorneys  to secure the stiffest penalties possible for those convicted of assaulting TTC employees, and continue to seek limits on the use of public transit in Toronto for those convicted of these crimes.