Project ERASE puts accused Toronto stunt driver in neutral

Ethan Tolander, 25, facing charges in Peel Region

Published Oct 04, 2026  •  2 minute read

Ethan Tolander, 25, of Toronto, was arrested and charged with 24 offences by Peel Regional Police. Photo by Peel Regional Police

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A 25-year-old Toronto man is facing a slew of street racing-related charges in Peel Region as part of Project ERASE with cops there seizing a BMW sedan and other evidence allegedly connected to the case.

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Peel Regional Police said its Safer Roads Team laid the two dozen charges against the man after investigating organized street racing in the area through the multijurisdictional Project ERASE, which is an acronym for “Eliminating Racing Activities on Streets Everywhere.”

Police said they were allegedly able to identify a suspect who had operated a blue BMW 340i at “several illegal street races” earlier in the year before executing a search warrant on Thursday in Toronto.

Ethan Tolander was arrested and charged with disguise with intent, flight from a peace officer, three counts of failure to comply with a release order, five counts of possession of property obtained by crime and seven counts each of dangerous operation and racing a motor vehicle.

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Multiple police forces involved in project

Project ERASE was launched in May 2024 with the goal of targeting street racing, stunt driving and illegal car rallies across the GTA. The OPP, Toronto Police, York Regional Police, Halton Regional Police and Hamilton Police are also involved in the effort.

An annual joint-forces enforcement blitz in May and June saw Toronto Police issue 148 tickets in that span, while also responding to just as many reports (151) of dangerous driving.

Toronto Police Insp. Paul Qureshi said in July that they were responding to dangerous driving “everywhere,” from highways to mall parking lots.

“Typically, it happens throughout the day depending how the driver feels at the time, but we have seen car meets and things like that — typically in the evening hours, sometimes on weekends — where later on at night you will see the actual racing happening between cars and really dangerous behaviour with high speeds, cutting each other off, squealing off the tires, all of the things that encompass stunt and dangerous driving,” he said.

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Additional charges could be laid

In Peel Region, meanwhile, Project ERASE enforcement runs year-round, although police there made 92 arrests, laid 1,400 charges and seized 100 vehicles in May and June alone.

They said the investigation that led to Tolander’s arrest is ongoing and “additional charges may be forthcoming.”

They asked anyone with information to contact the Safer Roads Team at 905-453-2121, Ext. 3730, or call 911 if they spot an instance of dangerous driving that poses an immediate threat to the public.

Videos and photos can also be sent to the Peel Regional Police evidence portal.

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