Shooter-for-hire attacks linked to Toronto police constable’s licence plate searches, Project South documents allege

Colin Freeze Published 4 hours agoUpdated 31 minutes ago Save for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story. Log InCreate Free Account Multiple shooter-for-hire attacks in the Greater Toronto Area last year allegedly trace back to Toronto Police Constable Timothy Barnhardt, who investigators say repeatedly used police databases to leak information to suspected organized crime figures, according to warrant applications that led to the Project South takedown. The newly released materials allege that while he was being surveilled by authorities, Constable Barnhardt accepted money from criminal figures in exchange for making “numerous” licence plate queries. Those files included what are known as information to obtain documents, which investigators use to get judicial authorization to conduct searches and make arrests. While some of the content of those documents was released in July, portions were placed under a publication ban as the Crown and media outlets argued over whether their release should be shielded to protect fair trial rights. Project South was sparked a corrections officer at his home in June, 2025. The warrants, which authorized police search efforts, were issued after that attack and before raids in February that led to charges against seven serving Toronto Police officers including Constable Barnhardt, one retired officer and nearly 20 civilians. Investigators have alleged that Constable Barnhardt was paid to use police databases to leak information about the corrections officer to alleged organized crime figure Brian Da Costa. Both Constable Barnhardt and Mr. Da Costa are in jail awaiting trial on an array of charges. Key transcripts that led to Project South probe will remain under publication ban, Ontario Superior Court rules Justice Laura Bird ruled Wednesday that some transcripts of key recordings that led to the Project South takedown will remain under a publication ban, concluding that inflammatory comments attributed to Constable Barnhardt would “deeply offend” the public and create an indelible impression on potential jurors. However, Justice Bird lifted the ban on previously unreported evidence investigators gathered against Constable Barnhardt, including details of his alleged interactions with Mr. Da Costa, who police say is the key civilian figure in Project South. The ITO materials allege that Constable Barnhardt did many of his licence plate searches at the behest of Mr. Da Costa, an accused drug dealer. The warrant materials allege the two were often spotted on surveillance together, at times exchanging documents, capturing images on their phones or even sitting inside a police cruiser that had a data terminal inside of it. “While Barnhardt explained the meaning of the police query results, Da Costa ultimately handed Barnhardt multiple $100 Canadian bills which he placed in the front pocket of his police vest,” the newly released documents say.