Brent Merrill Rescues Metcap Employee From Threat and Escape Possible Abduction Attempt

A Metcap Property Manager found himself threatened by rent striking tenants yesterday near 135 Tyndall Avenue in the Parkdale neighbourhood. In a brave rescue mission, Brent Merrill, MetCap Living Management Inc., entered the hostile area in a pickup truck. The Property Manager was able to make his way outside the building to Tyndall Avenue, where he hopped into Merrill’s truck as aggressive tenants attempted to detain them.

According to the Toronto Star, Merrill stated “He hopped into my truck. There were protesters trying to chase him,” explaining that a man even jumped in front of his truck while he was moving. He continues, “We were moving the whole time. The vehicle never stopped . . . eventually he stepped to the side.”

Concerned for the safety of his employee, Merrill observes the obvious by saying, “This is just escalating to the point where we need to have some reason and my people shouldn’t be threatened. They are only doing their job.”

In a Toronto Star article “Parkdale Property CEO Nearly Hits Tenant Advocate With Truck” written by EMILY MATHIEU (May 30, 2017) has a video showing about 13 seconds of the incident, but not what led up to it. If you look closely at the video, it looks like Tenant advocate Kevin Laforest was standing in the middle of the road trying to stop Merrill’s truck. Then Laforest looks like he steps off to the driver’s side of the truck. As the truck passes, Laforest can be seen running backwards next to the truck before falling. Laforest in a video interview states that he was hit by the driver’s side mirror.

The courage and bravery that Laforest has to attempt to stop a pickup truck is admirable…just not near normal people. Are the Canadian Armed Forces still looking for recruits to go into battle…perhaps someone to step in front of a jeep? Seriously, what the heck was Laforest thinking? Though, Laforest is the one mentioned because of his status as advocate, there were others shown in the video at first attempting to stop the pickup.

At first, Mathieu’s article seems to instigate anger against the property management company, but if you read past the headline and the first couple of paragraphs more of the details surface. Then you realize that the Metcap employee’s life may have actually been in danger. If someone is willing to step in front of a moving pickup, what are they going to do next?

Let’s hope that the employee is not going to experience psychological damage or post traumatic stress disorder. An employee under such adverse environment should be paid extra. I can just imagine the personal injury and labour lawyers hitting the phones this morning.

Ontario has a labour act to protect employees from workplace dangers and abuse. Where does Kathleen Wynne stand on this issue of hard working individuals being threatened to the point they have to run for their life and be rescued.

Cudos to Emily Mathieu for a well-detailed article that presented enough information for level-minded individuals to see that there are two sides to this situation.

Remember: Sometimes who appear to be predators are actually the victims. Don’t let the media headlines decide for you what is right and what is wrong!