Masqueraders allege 2 men took lewd images at Toronto Caribbean Carnival
Toronto police are investigating after participants in this weekend's Caribbean Carnival Parade allege two men forced their way into the procession and took lewd images of several women.
Masquerader Alicia Rose posted images of two men she said hopped a fence at the parade and then began taking images between women's legs.
In her Facebook post, Rose says the men were "using cameras up between women's legs as they danced," and refused to stop when they were confronted.
"We yelled at them to stop but they wouldn't," Rose said.
The two men are what parade participants call "stormers" — people who crash the parade as it travels along its Lake Shore Boulevard route.
Sophia Rickson, a costume designer with the Seldanah Masquerade Band, said there have been incidents with stormers in the past, but this incident marks a "new low."
"This is crazy," she said. "We don't know what they're doing with this footage. Are they taking it to make money with? We don't know what's happening and it's just so inappropriate."
Toronto police confirmed that an active investigation is ongoing and that charges could be laid. Const. Jenifferjit Sidhu said depending on the evidence gathered, it's possible the men could face public nuisance or even voyeurism charges in connection with the case
"Being in a public space, you're open to anyone taking a photograph or a video. However, when you tell someone 'please do not,' you're telling them right there that this is not acceptable," Sidhu said.
She said the fact that clear images of the two men have been shared with police will help the investigation.
