The charges against the individuals arrested in connection with the highly publicized armed carjacking of Toronto Maple Leafs star winger Mitch Marner were discreetly dropped last autumn, as reported by the Star.
Marner was robbed at gunpoint outside a movie theatre in Etobicoke on May 16, 2022, while he and his now-wife Stephanie LaChance were entering their black Land Rover. This incident occurred amidst a surge in carjackings making news across the Greater Toronto Area, with Marner’s ordeal highlighting the escalating auto theft crisis in the city.
Nearly twelve months later, in March 2023, law enforcement officials hailed the arrests of Christon Arman Johnson, aged 26, and Anas Adan Farah, aged 23, as the culmination of extensive investigative efforts into the robbery.
The charges brought against them included robbery with a firearm and disguise with intent, with Johnson facing additional charges for breaching a release order. However, these accusations were not substantiated, and both individuals were granted bail during that month. Court records indicate that the case against Johnson and Farah unraveled during a hearing on October 10, 2023, when a Crown prosecutor withdrew all charges against them, citing a lack of reasonable prospects for conviction. (Prosecutors are not obligated to provide explanations for withdrawing or staying charges.)
Attorneys representing Johnson and Farah declined to provide comments when contacted by the Star on Friday, while Marner’s agent did not respond to requests for comment. Last year, Marner expressed relief to reporters regarding the arrests, stating, “It’s nice to have the closure.”
According to law enforcement officials, a black Honda Civic obstructed Marner and LaChance from exiting a parking lot at Islington Avenue and the Queensway, near the Cineplex Cinemas. Marner then complied with three assailants armed with two handguns and a knife, who demanded the keys to his Land Rover. Both Marner and LaChance emerged from the incident physically unscathed but emotionally shaken.
When asked about the current status of the case, Toronto Police spokesperson Stephanie Sayer stated on Friday that “the investigation on the third suspect is ongoing.”
Police data reveals that there have been 137 reported carjackings in Toronto thus far this year, representing a surge of over 60 percent compared to the same period last year.