Suspect arrested in Toronto gas attendant killing

Toronto police have arrested a man accused of killing a gas station attendant in 2012, taking him into custody just two days after a $25,000 reward was offered in the case.

Police say it was a tip from someone in Montreal that led to the arrest of Max Tutiven, 42, on Thursday morning.

Jayesh Prajapati, 44, was killed when he was struck by a vehicle at a Shell station at Marlee and Roselawn avenues in Sept. 2012. Prajapati was trying to stop a driver who was leaving the station without paying a $112.85 bill.

According to Rogers’ Citytv station in Montreal, police say a man was nabbed in the east-end neighbourhood of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve. They would not release his identity until he is officially charged.

Police located the man at a residence on Chambly Street around 7:45 a.m. but could not enter without a search warrant. He was arrested once he left his resident at 9:30 a.m.

Montreal police say investigators in Toronto have been contacted and are awaiting transfer arrangements.

Toronto police say Tutiven will be charged with second-degree murder. He is also facing charges stemming from five outstanding warrants – four from Toronto, one from Montreal.

A court date has not been set.

Prajapati inspired Bill 12, an act that would require customers to pre-pay at gas pumps. The bill stalled in Oct. 2012 when then-premier Dalton McGuinty suspended the legislature. Advocates have also called for a policy that would stop gas station owners from garnishing employees’ wages over gas-and-dash incidents.

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