Toronto

Man charged after cinderblocks tossed into traffic from Highway 401 overpasses

A 32-year-old man has been charged with three counts of mischief endangering life after cinderblocks were tossed into traffic from Highway 401 overpasses in suburban Toronto.

Everton Emmanuel James, 32, of Pickering, Ont., was arrested after 3 incidents over last 4 days

A cement block caused this damage after it was thrown into traffic from an overpass earlier this week. A Pickering, Ont., man has been charged in this and two other incidents. (Sgt. Kerry Schmidt/OPP)

A 32-year-old man has been charged with three counts of mischief endangering life after cement cinderblocks were tossed into traffic from Highway 401 overpasses in suburban Toronto.

Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said a tip from the public led to the arrest of the man, who he identified in a tweet as Everton Emmanuel James, 32, of Pickering, Ont.

"My thanks to the public and to the media for bringing this matter to a very quick end," said Schmidt. "Had this continued, it would have only been a matter of time before someone would have gotten killed."

On Sunday, a cinderblock wrapped in a bag was thrown onto Highway 401 from the Progress Avenue overpass in Scarborough. It crashed through the roof of a moving vehicle.

Two more cinderblocks were thrown Wednesday — one from Highway 401 onto Yonge Street and another from the Warden Avenue overpass onto the 401. 

James was due for a bail hearing Thursday at Toronto's Old City Hall, but his case was adjourned until Friday.

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