Multiple shooter-for-hire attacks in the Greater Toronto Area last year allegedly trace back to Toronto Police Constable Timothy Barnhardt, who investigators say repeatedly used police databases to leak information to suspected organized crime figures, according to warrant applications that led to the Project South takedown. <\/p>\n
The newly released materials allege that while he was being surveilled by authorities, Constable Barnhardt accepted money from criminal figures in exchange for making \u201cnumerous\u201d licence plate queries. Those criminal figures went on to relay addresses linked to the plate searches to hired gunmen, who were paid to intimidate people and settle scores, the warrant applications allege.<\/p>\n
\u201cBarnhardt routinely abused his position as a police officer by selling confidential database information to criminal associates in exchange for cash,\u201d wrote police Constable Antonio D\u2019Onofrio, who signed an affidavit related to the 2025 search-warrant application materials.<\/p>\n
\u201cBarnhardt explicitly expressed indifference to the potential harm caused by the misuse of this information.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jail guard fears for his life after alleged botched hit that sparked Project South probe, court hears<\/a><\/p>\n The additional details of the allegations against Constable Barnhardt, who has been named as a central figure in Project South, were released in court documents this week following an application in Ontario Superior Court by a consortium of media partners, including The Globe and Mail. Those files included what are known as information to obtain documents, which investigators use to get judicial authorization to conduct searches and make arrests.<\/p>\n While some of the content of those documents was released in July<\/a>, portions were placed under a publication ban as the Crown and media outlets argued over whether their release should be shielded to protect fair trial rights. <\/p>\n Project South was sparked by the alleged attempted murder of a corrections officer at his home in June, 2025. <\/p>\n The warrants, which authorized police search efforts, were issued after that attack and before raids in February that led to charges against seven serving Toronto Police officers including Constable Barnhardt, one retired officer and nearly 20 civilians.<\/p>\n Investigators have alleged that Constable Barnhardt was paid to use police databases to leak information about the corrections officer to alleged organized crime figure Brian Da Costa. Both Constable Barnhardt and Mr. Da Costa are in jail awaiting trial on an array of charges.<\/p>\n Key transcripts that led to Project South probe will remain under publication ban, Ontario Superior Court rules<\/a><\/p>\n Justice Laura Bird ruled Wednesday that some transcripts of key recordings that led to the Project South takedown will remain under a publication ban, concluding that inflammatory comments attributed to Constable Barnhardt would \u201cdeeply offend\u201d the public and create an indelible impression on potential jurors.<\/p>\n However, Justice Bird lifted the ban on previously unreported evidence investigators gathered against Constable Barnhardt, including details of his alleged interactions with Mr. Da Costa, who police say is the key civilian figure in Project South. The ITO materials allege that Constable Barnhardt did many of his licence plate searches at the behest of Mr. Da Costa, an accused drug dealer. <\/p>\n The warrant materials allege the two were often spotted on surveillance together, at times exchanging documents, capturing images on their phones or even sitting inside a police cruiser that had a data terminal inside of it.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile Barnhardt explained the meaning of the police query results, Da Costa ultimately handed Barnhardt multiple $100 Canadian bills which he placed in the front pocket of his police vest,\u201d the newly released documents say. <\/p>\n Toronto lawyers Jason Dos Santos, who represents Constable Barnhardt, and Craig Bottomley, who represents Mr. Da Costa, declined to comment on the case.<\/p>\n