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A man who swam naked among sharks at Canada's Ripley Aquarium in downtown Toronto late Friday is wanted in a violent assault earlier in the evening, police said.
The spokeswoman, Katrina Arrogante, said that investigators from the West Division 14 of the city and from Division 52 of the city center had highlighted the incidents that occurred Monday with the help of evidence and clothing that he wore.
The assault took place outside the medieval city, Exhibition Place, around 20 hours. HE Friday, said the police, and the victim was seriously injured. It is believed that the suspect escaped and went to the aquarium, about five kilometers to the east. Officers were called to the popular tourist attraction two hours later.
The police are looking for this man, described as between 35 and 40 years old, measuring five feet 10 inches and measuring approximately 220 pounds, with a thick corpulence. He has his head shaved, his goatee and his teeth missing. (Toronto Police Service)
A one minute video posted on YouTube shows a man undressing and diving into the Dangerous Lagoon, a 2.9 million liter tank offering an underwater gallery to dozens of animals sailors, including 17 sharks.
You can see the naked man doing breaststroke on the surface of the water while sand tiger sharks swim a few inches from his feet.
I was afraid to witness the death of this guy.– Erinn Acland, witness
Green sawfish, green turtles, green moray eels and other species of tropical fish are also housed in the reservoir, according to the aquarium website.
The security of the popular tourist attraction asked the man to leave shortly before 10:30 pm But he refused, said Jenifferjit Sidhu, spokesman for the Toronto Police Service.
Instead, he swam to the edge of the enclosure and emerged from the tank before turning back into the water, she told CBC Toronto on Monday.
Erinn Acland, a visitor, said she heard the "big splash" and thought the coaches were feeding the sharks. When Acland and her boyfriend approached, she said, they saw a man in the water.
"The guy seemed totally relaxed and there were sharks, like everywhere," she told CBC Toronto. "He seemed to be totally naked and, like, he was laughing."
Acland described the display as unexpected and horrible.
"I do not know what anyone would do to do that, it's totally crazy for me," she said.
"I was afraid to witness the death of this guy."
A video of a visitor who captured the aquatic adventure of the human has been viewed more than 5,000 times on YouTube.
On-site security called the police, said Sidhu.
The man undressed and plunged into the dangerous lagoon, according to police, swimming with tiger sharks, sawfish and moray eels. (thecityissleeping / YouTube)
But before the officers arrive, the man is out of the water.
A video shows him passing in front of the security standing on the edge of the tank, to cross the gate and slip into a crowd of spectators where a woman seems to be holding her clothes. He put them on and left the aquarium at the request of safety, Sidhu said.
No marine animals were injured during the waterfall, she noted, adding that the swim was "extremely dangerous".
"This endangers the safety of humans, marine animals and the staff who have tried to get them out of the water," she told CBC Toronto.
We plan to lay charges to the fullest extent of the law.– Peter Doyle, General Manager, Ripley Aquarium
The police have failed to locate the man, but she is trying to talk to him.
He could face charges of trespassing, mischief and indecent, Sidhu said. This would be in addition to possible accusations of aggression in the previous attack.
The aquarium plans to lay charges, said managing director Peter Doyle.
"It's very dangerous for the individual as well as for our animals," said Doyle at CBC Toronto.
"The health and well-being of an animal is paramount to what we do, and we plan to lay charges to the fullest extent permitted by law."
The video shows that the man first escaped security by slipping into the crowd, but he was later apprehended and asked to leave. (thecityissleeping / YouTube)
Although animals have ignored humans, they are unpredictable, said Doyle.
"Every time you play with wild animals, you scare a dog or a shark, it can be very serious," he said.
Doyle said this incident was the first of its kind in five years that the aquarium was opened.
The police describe the man as 35 to 40 years old, about five feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 220 pounds. He has his head shaved, a dark goatee and a tattoo on his leg.
He was wearing a dark hoodie, dark jeans, a green t-shirt, and gray and white shoes.
The aquarium hosted a monthly jazz event on Friday night, with pay bar and live music until 11pm.
General Manager Peter Doyle said the waterfall was "incredibly dangerous" and that the aquarium was planning to file a complaint. (CBC)
