A court document reveals that the purported attack on a prison official that sparked the police corruption and organized crime case called Project South was orchestrated by individuals using fake identities on an encrypted messaging platform. According to court records, suspects allegedly utilized the Signal app to exchange personal details and photos of the target, a senior corrections officer at Toronto South Detention Centre, whose identity is safeguarded by a publication ban.
The allegations were detailed in a legal submission by Crown prosecutors in Ontario Superior Court last month, citing intercepted chats on confiscated cellphones that suggest an alleged network involved in hiring hitmen was behind the planned attack. The Project South inquiry commenced in June 2025 following the interception of the suspected hit, where a vehicle linked to the suspects collided with a police car stationed outside the official’s residence.
Initially, approximately 30 individuals, including seven Toronto police officers and a retired constable, faced charges in relation to Project South. One officer has pleaded guilty, while a civilian’s charge was dropped. The court documents outline conversations between suspects leading up to the planned attack on the corrections officer, discussing recruitment and job prices. The allegations remain unproven in court.
Further Signal messages recovered from a suspect’s cellphone revealed additional attempts to solicit someone to carry out the attack on the jail guard. Despite these efforts, one individual declined the offer, while another expressed readiness to proceed. The factum describes the arrangement of a team to execute the plan at the official’s residence over a 36-hour period.
The court filing also implicates a Toronto police officer for unauthorized access to the official’s information on a government database. Legal representation for some of the accused declined to comment, and the allegations are yet to be adjudicated. The investigation further uncovered the involvement of Const. Timothy Barnhardt in the illegal search, with his legal team opting to address the matter in court.
Days prior to the planned hit, the suspect vehicle was observed near the official’s home, with an alarming encounter involving the official’s grandfather and armed individuals. Subsequent surveillance led to the apprehension of suspects near the residence, culminating in arrests. The factum additionally mentions a video on a suspect’s phone related to an earlier shooting incident, suggesting a pattern of criminal activity.
The unfolding details shed light on the intricate web of events surrounding Project South, underscoring the collaborative efforts to disrupt criminal activities and uphold justice.