TTC probing sexual harassment complaint after suspect’s photo posted online
Posted July 27, 2016 2:07 pm.
Last Updated July 27, 2016 6:59 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The TTC is investigating after a passenger witnessed and was subjected to an alleged sexual assault on the subway, and posted about it on Facebook.
“It’s a serious incident,” TTC spokesman Brad Ross said.
“People need to be able to ride the TTC in safety and security … without being harassed, without being touched, without receiving unwanted attention.”
The passenger, Jamie Leigh Baker, said it all started when she saw a man put his arm around the shoulders of another female passenger on Line 2 on Friday.
“A couple of stops later, I noticed she was shifting her body closer to me; she was very uncomfortable,” said Baker, who took off her headphones and offered to help.
“As soon as I did that though, she literally just got up and got off the train. She didn’t actually leave the platform. She stood on the platform and waited for the next one.”
Once that passenger was gone, the same man put his hand on top of the groceries on Baker’s lap, she claimed. When she told him to back off, two other men came to his defense and accused Baker of making up stories.
“I asked him very loudly but politely, ‘I’m sorry, sir. Your hand is kind of poking at my bread. Can I ask you to move your hand?’ And instantly, he just flew off the handle and was very enraged, telling me to mind my own business.”
Ross said the incident was reported on Monday and TTC special constables are investigating. They are looking at video and have spoken to Baker.
“Whether reports come directly to us or through social media, the fact of the matter remains it is a serious matter and we are going to investigate,” Ross said.
By 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the Facebook post had been shared more than 7,000 times.
Baker is not alone. By the end of May, there were 35 reported incidents of sexual assaults on the TTC, Ross said.
However, many women and other victims of sexual assault don’t report it. Earlier this month, the TTC said it was hoping to make that process easier with an app.
The app would allow passengers to contact transit security through their smartphone without having to worry about drawing attention to themselves. It would also allow users to instantly report harassment.
“We are looking into an app where someone could, on their phone, do something that doesn’t require them necessarily to get up and touch the stripe or touch a button if they don’t feel comfortable with that, that could quietly deploy our resources to that site,” TTC chair Josh Colle said on July 11.
“There’s been some discussion of using technology in more efficient ways and different apps that can help people who might not always be standing next to the designated waiting area to have those kinds of alarm buttons.”
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TTC looks at ways to make women feel safer on transit
Man sought after tossing coffee at bus driver in Vaughan
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