Violent robbery in Toronto started with online chat; Mississauga man charged

A Mississauga man faces more than a half dozen charges after an online chat led to an assault and robbery in Toronto, police say.

The violent April 8 incident unfolded when a man met a person through social media and the two decided to meet in person, Toronto Police said in a news release on Friday.

According to investigators, the man then “picked up the victim in his vehicle” in the Midland Avenue/Lawrence Avenue East area of Scarborough.

The victim was assaulted inside the car and had their belongings stolen, police said.

An arrest was made on June 10.

Ridhampreet Singh, 21, of Mississauga, is charged with:

• forcible confinement
• assault
• two counts of robbery
• three counts of utter threats
• assault with a weapon
• fraud under $5,000

He was scheduled to make a first appearance in Toronto court last week.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-4100 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.

A man of the same name and age, also of Mississauga, was charged earlier this month by Peel Regional Police with kidnapping, robbery with a firearm and fraud.

That case is also before the courts.