Ajax — A summer evening at one of Ajax’s busiest waterfront parks was disrupted when a motorist drove a vehicle through playground areas, the splash pad and pedestrian routes at Rotary Park, Durham Regional Police say. The driver, later identified as Ismail Abrahimzada, 23 of Aurora, was arrested following the incident and is charged with dangerous operation and failure to stop for police.
What police say happened
Durham Regional Police Service responded shortly before 6:30 p.m. on July 18 after reports of a white Toyota sedan moving dangerously through Rotary Park while the area was busy with families and children. Officers located the vehicle near the intersection of Westney Road South and Bayly Street West, and the driver fled when police attempted to stop the car.
According to police, the vehicle returned to the waterfront area and drove across a pedestrian bridge used by the Waterfront Trail and other walking paths before fleeing again. Officers later found the car a short distance away at Harwood Avenue South and Bayly Street East. An attempt to box in the vehicle preceded a collision with an unrelated GMC SUV; the driver was then taken into custody.
"No injuries were reported,"
Police confirmed there were no reported injuries from the incident.
Charges and next steps
Ismail Abrahimzada was charged with dangerous operation and failing to stop for police. He was held for a bail hearing, DRPS said. Investigators are asking anyone with information, cellphone or dashcam footage, or surveillance recordings related to the incident to contact Const. Smith of West Division at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 1901. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or via the organisation’s online portal; tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward.
- Location: Rotary Park, Ajax (waterfront playground, splash pad, pedestrian bridge and trails)
- Date and time: July 18, shortly before 6:30 p.m.
- Subject: Ismail Abrahimzada, 23, Aurora resident
- Charges: Dangerous operation; failure to stop for police
- Injuries: None reported
Local context and community concerns
Rotary Park is a popular waterfront destination in Ajax that attracts families with young children, particularly during summer evenings when playgrounds and the splash pad are in use. An incident of a motor vehicle moving through areas intended for pedestrians and children raises immediate safety concerns for residents and park users. Although police say no one was hurt, the sequence of events — entering play areas, returning to cross a pedestrian bridge, and attempting to flee officers — has prompted a police investigation and community questions about how such an event could occur at a well-used public space.
Local residents may want reassurance about measures to prevent similar incidents. While the police response concluded with an arrest and charges, the incident highlights the vulnerability of open public spaces where vehicles can access paths and bridges that are designed primarily for foot traffic, cyclists and families. Municipal staff and parks officials were not quoted in the initial police reports; they typically assess site-specific safety features such as barriers, signage and vehicle access points when public incidents occur.
How to help the investigation
Investigators are seeking any footage or eyewitness accounts to piece together the motorist’s route and intentions. If you were at Rotary Park on the evening of July 18 and have photos or video, or if your dashcam captured the vehicle in the area, contact the West Division at the number provided above. Submitting material can assist police in confirming the full sequence of events and supporting charges through independent evidence.
| Time (approx.) | Action |
|---|---|
| Shortly before 6:30 p.m., July 18 | Reports of vehicle driving through Rotary Park (playground, splash pad, paths) |
| Evening | Vehicle located near Westney Rd S & Bayly St W; driver flees |
| Evening | Vehicle returns and crosses pedestrian bridge on Waterfront Trail |
| Evening | Car found at Harwood Ave S & Bayly St E; collision with an unrelated SUV; arrest |
Durham Regional Police continue to investigate. Residents with information are asked to reach out to the contacts listed above.
