A jail official was targeted in an alleged hit that sparked the police corruption and organized crime investigation known as Project South. Court documents reveal that suspects coordinated the hit using aliases on an encrypted messaging platform, Signal.
Leading up to the planned attack, the suspects reportedly utilized the Signal app to exchange personal details and photos of the target, a senior corrections officer at Toronto South Detention Centre, whose identity is shielded by a publication ban. The Crown prosecutors’ factum, filed recently in Ontario Superior Court, details how seized cellphones uncovered chats suggesting an alleged gun-for-hire network’s involvement in the attempted murder.
The Project South probe commenced in June 2025 when York Regional Police intercepted the thwarted hit after a suspect vehicle collided with a police car stationed near the jail official’s residence.
Initially, nearly 30 individuals, including seven Toronto police officers and one retired constable, faced charges in Project South. One officer pleaded guilty, while one civilian’s charge was stayed.
In the days leading up to the foiled hit, suspects communicated via Signal, with one, known as “Danny Phantom,” requesting reconnaissance on the official’s location from another, identified as “Lebron James.” The factum alleges that personal information and the official’s address were obtained from an unauthorized search of the Ministry of Transportation’s database, believed to have been accessed unlawfully by a Toronto police officer.
The allegations point to discussions among the suspects about recruiting others and dividing earnings from criminal activities. The court records emphasize that the allegations are yet to be tested in court.
Another suspect, identified as “Dwayne Casey,” was said to have attempted to enlist help for the hit but faced rejections. Subsequently, the task was offered to a different individual, referred to as “Reality,” who claimed readiness to proceed with the plan.
The factum highlights the coordination of a team of “hitters” by Reality, with difficulties arising due to a stolen vehicle used in the operation. This vehicle, an intercepted blue Acura, was found with individuals, including Almar Heath, carrying incriminating items near the official’s home during the police takedown.
Heath, Jackson, Lemonious, Barker-Campbell, and two unnamed youths are charged with conspiracy to murder the jail official, with all allegations pending court verification.
York police’s investigation revealed a Toronto police constable, Timothy Barnhardt, as the individual who unlawfully accessed the official’s information. Barnhardt’s legal team has stated their intention to address the accusations in court.
The court filing details interactions involving the suspect vehicle near the official’s residence, including a close encounter with the official’s grandfather, leading to the eventual police intervention and arrests.
Moreover, the factum mentions a video on Jackson’s phone showing discussions related to a previous shooting incident involving the blue Acura, suggesting a potential connection to additional criminal activities.
The unfolding events in the Project South case shed light on the alleged criminal activities orchestrated through encrypted messaging platforms, raising concerns about organized crime involvement and police corruption.