Police seek clues in Mafia-tied Hamilton crash

Montreal-registered car left behind in accident outside mobster’s home

HAMILTON— Hamilton police are hoping that evidence left behind in a car involved in a crash in front of mobster Pat Musitano’s house will hold clues to the identities of those involved.

The bizarre head-on crash around 4:30 p.m. July 22 happened when a “close friend” of the Mafia family, a 76-year-old man, was backing into Musitano’s driveway in a Buick. Something “spooked” the friend, causing him to accelerate rapidly toward a Mercedes on the street. Three men, including two in the Mercedes and another who may have been outside the car, ran away. They have not been identified.

The airbags deployed inside the Mercedes during the crash, Det.-Sgt. Peter Thom of the major crime unit said. Police are hoping they can be tested to see if there is any blood, sweat or saliva, for DNA.

Thom said police found electronic devices left behind in the Mercedes that may also help in their investigation.

Police have shared surveillance images of the men with police intelligence units at other agencies, including in Montreal — where the car was registered.

All three were described as being Black and between 25 and 30 years old. One wore a mask and another carried a backpack. Two were around six feet tall with athletic builds; the third was shorter and stockier.

It remains unclear exactly what happened in the moments before the crash.

The investigation is made more difficult because of little co-operation with police.

This includes the 25-year-old registered owner of the Mercedes, who was arrested on suspicion of failing to remain at a crash and conspiracy to commit murder against the 76-yearold. However, without sufficient evidence, police released him unconditionally.

The Hamilton police investigation is focused not just on what happened in the crash, but also what the men in the Mercedes were doing on the street for “some time” before.

Pasquale (Pat) Musitano, the reputed head of Hamilton’s Musitano crime family, survived an attempt on his life in April when he was shot outside his lawyer’s office in Mississauga. Despite being shot multiple times, he was released from hospital a little over a week later.

Little is known about what he has been doing since being released, including whether anyone still lives at his home in central Hamilton.

It appeared no one was home at the time of the crash, but the 76-year-old friend was known to be a frequent visitor — perhaps keeping an eye on the property for Musitano. Musitano visited the friend, who suffered minor injuries, in hospital.

The incident comes at a time of heightened Mafia violence in the Hamilton area, including the murder of Musitano’s younger brother Angelo in May 2017 and the bullet-spraying of Pat Musitano’s house on the night of June 27, 2017. Members of rival families have seen loved ones killed, including the shooting deaths of Albert Iavarone and Cece Luppino.

In Angelo Musitano’s murder, the killer is accused of using sophisticated surveillance to track the family. Thom said police are examining the cars involved in the crashes to see if any trackers were installed.