Brass knuckles a blow to Ford saga
‘Jugga’ James, maker of the second crack video, hit by Brazen 2 cop with dangerous weapon charge
The lead detective on the Project Brazen 2 squad investigating Mayor Rob Ford charged the man who filmed the second crack cocaine video with possession of a dangerous weapon — brass knuckles.
Det.-Sgt. Gary Giroux arrested Michael (Jugga) James on May 13, two weeks after the crack video was made at a drug-fuelled party in sister Kathy Ford’s basement, according to court records the Star obtained this week. Police from a different Toronto squad also charged James this summer with cocaine possession.
The cocaine charges are pending, but the brass knuckle charges were suddenly stayed by a Crown prosecutor Wednesday morning. They could be reactivated within one year if the police and Crown decide to proceed with the case against James. The Star does not know whether detectives who had been trying to interview James were successful. James is a new character in the evolving Ford saga. The 20-year-old man has a history of involvement in the world of drugs but has no convictions. James, who described himself as a good friend of the 53-year-old Ford sister, was invited over to Kathy’s home in Etobicoke on Saturday, April 26.
In an interview with the Star, James said he partied in the basement with Rob and Kathy, and Ford friend Sandro Lisi.
According to James, Ford repeatedly used a highly offensive racial slur and pummelled Lisi until he cried. James told the Star he was angry with Ford for using the word “n-----” to refer to him (he is black) and for throwing pennies at him, which he took as a sign of disrespect.
The Star viewed three video clips from the night, which show Ford smoking from a homemade pipe shared with his sister. James’ iPhone microphone was broken and only white noise can be heard on the video clips.
The Brazen 2 squad was formed last year to investigate Mayor Ford and others, including Ford friend Lisi.
Lisi was arrested and charged last year with drug possession and with extortion over alleged attempts to retrieve the first crack video.
After news of the Saturday night party in April began circulating, Brazen 2 detectives set about trying to find out what had occurred and to see if they could learn anything from those present.
Brazen 2 detectives interviewed Kathy Ford, and portions of that interview are in new search warrant documents filed in court.
The Star is seeking to have those documents unsealed, and the matter returns to court on Sept. 19. The Star does not know if Brazen 2 detectives were successful in interviewing James, but court records show he was arrested on May 13, two weeks after the party.
His court records show Giroux, Toronto’s top homicide investigator, laid the charges of possession and concealment of a dangerous weapon (a set of brass knuckles).
The Star was unable to get further information from Toronto police as to the circumstances of the arrest and charges.
Those charges were stayed in court on Wednesday by the Crown attorney, meaning they will not proceed at this time, though they can be brought back to life within one year if new information comes to light. In an interview, James told the Star his charges were “dropped because they had insufficient evidence against me.” James said he could not comment when the Star asked if he was co-operating with police from the Brazen 2 squad.
James was charged again (not by a Project Brazen detective) on July15, this time with cocaine possession. Those charges are pending with a return to court set for Oct. 3.
Court records show that in 2012 James was charged with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking. Those charges were withdrawn by the Crown attorney two months after he was arrested.