New York man facing 26 G20-related charges surrenders to Toronto police

TORONTO – Toronto police say they’ve charged a 27-year-old New York City man with 26 offences arising from the G20 Summit in Toronto in June 2010.

Investigators say Joel Saleem Bitar returned to Canada from the United States voluntarily and surrendered to police on Tuesday.

Bitar — who was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for G20-related offences — is being held in custody pending a court appearance on Wednesday.

Police allege Bitar used a hammer to smash the windows of a police car, while a police officer was inside the vehicle, and vandalized windows of numerous downtown Toronto banks and shops.

He’s also alleged to have thrown a rock at a line of police officers, and smashed the window of a police minivan, causing property damage totalling more than $400,000.

Bitar faces charges that include 13 counts of mischief over $5,000, two counts of intimidation of a justice system participant by violence, and five counts of mischief endangering life.

Dozens of protesters — many wearing disguises — went on a rampage through downtown Toronto during the international summit.

More than 1,100 people were taken into custody that weekend in one of the largest mass arrests in Canadian history.

Most were released without charges but more than 40 people have been successfully prosecuted.

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