Crown narrows charges against eight accused in Project South police corruption investigation

Crown prosecutors have narrowed the scope of charges they will pursue against eight accused in Project South, the sweeping investigation into police corruption and alleged organized crime that began in June 2025.

Superior court indictments filed for eight of the accused list 33 fewer charges than what they were originally charged with by police earlier this year. The Crown's decision to streamline charges is a normal part of the prosecution process to ensure prosecutors pursue their strongest cases, according to current and former prosecutors.

"The Crown picks its best case," said Ian Bulmer, vice-president of the Ontario Crown Attorneys' Association. "It's exercising independent, quasi-judicial power to make sure the best cases make it through to a system that's under stress."

Toronto police Const. Timothy Barnhardt, at the centre of the investigation, was originally facing 17 charges. He now faces 10 charges, including accepting and giving a bribe to a peace officer, conspiracy to obstruct justice, trafficking police uniforms, and unauthorized use of police computers. Civilian Brian Da Costa, accused of sharing confidential information Barnhardt allegedly provided, was originally charged with 16 offences and now faces nine.

Project South began when York Regional Police thwarted an alleged plot to kill a senior corrections officer at Toronto South Detention Centre. During that investigation, police discovered Barnhardt had allegedly shared confidential information about the corrections officer with Da Costa, who is accused of providing that information to others charged in the alleged murder plot. Both Barnhardt and Da Costa remain in custody.