A former Ontario Attorney General is facing serious allegations after the death of a cyclist.
Michael Bryant has been charged with criminal negligence causing death as well as dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death following a fatal incident that took place Monday night on Bloor Street.
Police allege that Bryant, 43, and the cyclist, identified as Darcy Allan Sheppard (pictured below) had a minor altercation after a possible collision. The cyclist then apparently approached the driver and grabbed onto the vehicle.
Bryant allegedly began to drive away with the cyclist still clinging to the car.
He fell off some distance later.
The 33-year-old was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries and died later that night.
"I saw when he had fallen to the ground, picked up the bicycle, thrown it towards the vehicle, and run around the driver’s side to start an altercation with the driver," recalled one witness. "And the driver was scared, backed up, trying to get away from the situation and proceeded to head westbound on Bloor Street. The cyclist was holding on to the driver and the vehicle.
“My sympathies are out there for the cyclist and his family, but at the same time if I was put in the same position and being assaulted and potentially scared for my life in an altercation like that, I think it’s reasonable that anybody would try to flee the situation."
Bryant spent the night in jail and briefly addressed the media upon his release Tuesday.
“I ask for your understanding in not making a statement today on last night’s tragic events. At an appropriate moment I will of course speak to you," he said, holding back tears.
"I would however like to extend my deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Sheppard. To all those who have offered support to my family over the last 12 hours, thank you, and may I ask that the media continue to respect my family’s need for distance and privacy for the next few days.”
Witnesses report that Bryant's convertible Saab was swaying while the man clung to the side, but it's not clear if the driver was doing it on purpose to cause the man to fall, or if Sheppard was holding onto the steering wheel.
It's believed Sheppard struck several roadside objects and may have been run over during the ordeal.
Bryant was one of several people who called 911 to report the collision.
“There was some sort of altercation between the two people involved,” explained Sgt. Tim Burrows of Traffic Services.
“It ended, unfortunately, with the death of the cyclist. Exactly how this has happened, at this point in time is under investigation. We are trying to review security footage from the area.”
Investigators are still looking for more people to come forward as detectives construct a timeline of exactly what happened.
“We know that there are several people that witnessed everything that occurred at certain increments,” Burrows said.
Bryant will appear in court on October 19.
"I want to express sincere condolences to the family and friends of the cyclist who died last night following an incident in the Yorkville area," Mayor David Miller said in a written statement.
"As this is an active police investigation, I will not be making any further comment on this tragedy [Tuesday]."
Premier Dalton McGuinty echoed the sentiment.
"My thoughts are with the family and friends of the gentleman who lost his life," he told reporters at Queen's Park.
"With respect to the case itself, I think the best thing to do in the circumstances is to allow the investigation to unfold.
"It's just very sad. It's very tragic."
When asked if he thought Bryant was being treated differently, McGuinty replied "I'm confident that anyone who comes before Ontario courts will be treated with due process."
Anyone who was on Bloor Street between Church Street and Avenue Road from 9:20pm to 9:50pm is asked to contact police, Burrows added.
Call Traffic Services 416-808-1900 or CrimeStoppers to remain anonymous 416-222-TIPS (8477).