Pits DIY has publicly disputed a police account of an incident at the skatepark, saying that no women were harmed and accusing authorities of sharing inaccurate information.
The organization said the police version of events did not match what actually happened at the park.
The organization wrote that no women were injured and claimed police either made a serious mistake or intentionally shared incorrect information that paints the skatepark and crime in the city in a negative light.
Pits DIY also pointed to previous interactions with police, saying officers had shut down its fundraising events in the past.
The post further suggested that the timing of the incident has raised questions because a local election is approaching and one candidate has proposed hiring 1,000 additional police officers.
The statement also criticized media organizations that published the original police information without confirming it first.
The community at Christie Pits specifically called out CP24 and the Toronto Star, saying journalists should verify information before reporting it.
After the concerns were raised, the Toronto Star acknowledged that the information provided by Toronto Police was incorrect.
Maith, the public editor at the Toronto Star, replied to Pits DIY with the following statement:
"Nicky,
Thank you for contacting the public editor's office at the Star to notify us about this error.
The reporter reached out to Toronto Police and yes, the information provided at the time was incorrect.
We are updating the article to note that they are two males and also updated the age for one.
We appreciate you taking the time to let us know the correct information.
Best,
Maith"
The response confirms that the newspaper contacted Toronto Police again and received updated information.
The article has since been corrected to state that the people involved were two males, along with a revised age for one of them.
While the Toronto Star corrected its reporting after receiving updated details, Pits DIY continues to question how the inaccurate information was shared in the first place.
The organization argues that police statements should be carefully checked before they are repeated by news outlets, especially when those statements can affect how a community space is viewed by the public.
Police reports are often an early source of information for developing stories, but details can change as investigations continue or new facts become available.
In this case, the correction acknowledged that the initial description of those involved was inaccurate.
Pits DIY has not backed away from its criticism and maintains that the original police account unfairly portrayed the skatepark.
The organization says it hopes future reporting will rely on confirmed facts so that inaccurate information does not continue to shape public opinion.