Project South corruption case: Lawyers discuss progress as 13 face charges

The investigation into Project South, a sweeping police corruption and organized crime probe, is moving forward with 13 individuals charged. For the first time since the Crown announced direct indictments, prosecutors and defense lawyers met in Superior Court to discuss the case's progress. This direct indictment process bypasses a preliminary hearing, sending the case straight to trial.

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We are approximately six months out since the arrests; Feb. 4, 2026, was takedown day. All relate to the same investigation and the same wiretap investigation. The majority of the disclosure in the Crown’s estimation is complete.

Samuel Walker, lead counsel for the Justice Prosecutions Unit, informed Superior Court Justice Catherine H. Rhinelander that eight indictments are now before the court, including one federal indictment. Seven of the accused are current or former Toronto police officers. Derek McCormick, a former Toronto constable, pleaded guilty Tuesday in the Ontario Court of Justice.

Walker stated that the investigation, which began after a senior corrections manager's home was shot at in June 2025, is approximately six months past its "takedown day" of February 4, 2026. He indicated that the majority of the disclosure is complete. The investigation was initiated by York Regional Police following the February arrests.

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Police found evidence of numerous unlawful queries alleged to be conducted by Constable Barnhardt and other officers within the Toronto Police Service.

Allegations suggest that Const. Timothy Barnhardt, described as the "genesis" of the probe, unlawfully accessed confidential information about the manager and shared it with members of a criminal organization. Evidence reportedly shows numerous unlawful queries by Barnhardt and other officers, with the accessed information allegedly leading to criminal incidents like extortion, robberies, and shootings. Barnhardt, who appeared in court in an orange jumpsuit, also faces drug charges. Brian Da Costa, another accused, appeared via Zoom. Walker noted that over 50 Information to Obtain documents have been disclosed, and pre-trial motions are likely.

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In multiple cases, investigators determined the addresses returned by the unlawful queries were later the location of criminal incidents, including an extortion, commercial robberies and shootings.