- Authorities had accused two Mitsubishi dealer managers of selling stolen cars.
- Roughly 10 months after their arrests, prosecutors dropped every charge.
- One manager says he lost his home during two years he couldn’t work.
Police in Toronto, Canada, are being sued for almost CA$11 million (about $7.7 million at current rates) after two former Mitsubishi dealership managers were arrested and hit with dozens of charges as part of a sprawling auto theft investigation, only to watch every count against them collapse a year later. The two men now want the force to pay for what those arrests did to their careers.
The managers, Harris Bocknek and Fadi Zeto, ran Rouge Valley Mitsubishi in Scarborough, Ontario, until late 2023. The following summer, police opened an investigation into stolen vehicles allegedly being sold to unsuspecting customers, with investigators claiming the pair had used fake sales agreements and bought stolen cars with dealership money.
Read: A Mitsubishi Dealer Sold 14 Cars For Up To $8,000 Below Invoice Just To Get Out
The probe was launched following an interview with the dealership’s owner. In late 2024, both Bocknek and Zeto were arrested. Bocknek was hit with 92 charges, while Zeto was charged with 84, and both had seemed set to go to trial. However, the Crown withdrew all charges in September last year, stating there was no reasonable prospect of conviction.
A lawsuit filed by the two ex-dealership managers claims that local police “made a deliberate and concerted effort to financially strangle both Plaintiffs.” The men also state that their records have not been expunged, despite the case being dropped and repeated efforts to clear their names with Toronto police.
Police May Have To Pay
According to Toronto Today, Bocknek is seeking CA$4,040,315 ($2,849,000) in general and specific damages, while Zeto wants CA$4,779,838 ($3,371,000). On top of that, each man is claiming CA$500,000 ($352,000) in aggravated damages and another CA$500,000 ($352,000) in punitive damages. The suit also demands a personal apology from local police chief Myron Demkiw.
The arrests of Bocknek and Zeto prompted the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council to revoke their licenses, making it difficult for them to find work. It’s alleged that Zeto had to move out of his home as he was unable to work for two years.
“The Defendants’ reckless, unfounded and very public portrayal of the two Plaintiffs has permanently destroyed the Plaintiffs’ ability to remain in their industry and earn a livelihood,” the lawsuit adds.
