Ford’s sister detailed crack incident to police

CHARMAINE NORONHA
Associated Press

TORONTO (AP) — Rob Ford’s sister told police the Toronto mayor smoked crack cocaine with her one night in April in the company of a man she claimed sold drugs to her brother that night, according court documents that indicated police are investigating the mayor for drug possession.

The documents released Wednesday said Kathy Ford was twice interviewed by investigators after reports surfaced last May of a video allegedly showing the mayor smoking crack in his sister’s basement. Reports of that video prompted Ford to enter rehab for two months, capping a year of scandals that began when news reports surfaced of a first video apparently showing the mayor smoking crack.

Ford, who has doggedly refused to resign amid the mounting controversies, dropped his re-election bid earlier this month after being diagnosed with cancer. His brother, Doug Ford, is running in his place against two major opponents in the Oct. 27 election.

Police said they believe the latest video was recorded on April 26 by Michael “Jugga” James, whom Kathy Ford said sold drugs to her and her brother that night. She also said Ford was drinking with his friend, Alexander Lisi, who is facing drug and extortion charges.

The documents, released by a judge, were filed by police trying to obtain a search warrant for three of James’ cellphones, which they believed might contain footage of the night in April. In the filing, Detective Constable David LaVallee wrote that the video could “provide evidence of… drug possession against Robert Ford,” and drug trafficking and drug possession by James.

Rob Ford has not been charged with any crime. Toronto Police spokesman Mark Pugash declined to comment on the documents, saying the investigation is ongoing.

According to the documents, Kathy Ford told police that her brother arrived at her house “intoxicated” but not “high,” and that he was drinking and “kidding around fighting” with Lisi in her home.

“Kathryn Ford and Robert Ford were smoking crack cocaine that night,” the documents state. “Lisi was not doing drugs.”

Lisi has been charged with extortion related to attempts to retrieve the first crack video, whose existence was reported by the Toronto Star and the Gawker website in May 2013. The Globe and Mail reported in May that it had seen the second crack video. The newspaper published still photos of the video, saying it paid $10,000 for them.

Lisi was also charged in October 2013 with trafficking in marijuana, possession of proceeds of crime, possession of marijuana and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence during the investigation into Ford.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up