The police corruption and organized crime investigation known as Project South was instigated by an alleged attack on a jail official, orchestrated by suspects using false identities on an encrypted messaging platform, according to court records. Leading up to the purported assassination attempt, the suspects purportedly utilized the Signal app to exchange personal details and photos of the intended victim, a senior corrections officer at Toronto South Detention Centre, whose identity is shielded by a publication ban.
The Crown prosecutors’ factum, filed in Ontario Superior Court, outlines the accusations based on conversations retrieved from confiscated cellphones, detailing the involvement of an alleged gun-for-hire network in the planned attack. The investigation commenced in June 2025 following the interception of the suspected hit, when a collision occurred between the suspect vehicle and a police car stationed outside the officer’s residence.
Initially, nearly 30 individuals, including seven Toronto police officers and a retired constable, were charged in connection with Project South. One officer has pleaded guilty, and one civilian’s charge has been stayed. The factum reveals conversations between suspects discussing various criminal activities in addition to the planned assault on the jail official.
Further evidence from Signal messages on another suspect’s cellphone reveals additional attempts to solicit individuals for the murder plot shortly before law enforcement intervened. The interactions included sharing identifying information and planning logistics for the attack. The parties involved in the conspiracy face charges of conspiracy to murder the corrections officer, with ongoing legal proceedings yet to validate the allegations.
During the investigation, Const. Timothy Barnhardt of the Toronto Police Service was identified as the officer suspected of unauthorized access to the officer’s information on the Ministry of Transportation database. Barnhardt’s legal representation has indicated a defense strategy in court rather than engaging with media inquiries.
The court records also detail incidents where the suspects surveilled the corrections officer’s residence and engaged in activities related to the planned hit, which culminated in arrests following the police’s surveillance and intervention. The factum additionally references past criminal activities involving the suspects, highlighting the complexity and severity of the case.