Toronto Police Warn Public After ‘High-Risk’ Offender Released Upon Completing Sentence

Police are warning the public that a “high-risk offender” with a record of sexual offences against children has been released from prison after serving his sentence.

The Toronto Police Service (TPS) says Melvin Brown, 54, who was released on April 17, was convicted in 2023 on charges including assault, uttering threats, choking, and two counts of sexual interference against a person under 16. The police did not release details on his past crimes.

Brown was also found to be a long-term offender and was subject to a long-term supervision order until 2019.

“The Toronto Police Service is notifying the public about this offender because of his demonstrated risk to the community, including children,” the TPS said in a community safety notification issued the same day.

The notice stated that a chief of police or their designate may disclose personal information about an individual if they reasonably believe that person poses a significant risk of harm to others or to property, and that such disclosure would reduce that risk.

Brown, who was also convicted of failing to comply with a previous probation order, will now be subject to two probation orders—one for two years and another for 18 months—police added.

His probation conditions include not contacting the victims of his past offences, reporting regularly to a probation officer, updating the officer of any changes to his address or employment, and attending and “actively” participating in treatment programs as directed by the officer.

A breach of probation could result in the offender serving a prison term of up to 18 months or a fine of up to $5,000 for summary offences, according to Ontario’s probation policy by the Ministry of the Solicitor General. For indictable offences, the maximum prison term is four years.

In TPS’s 2024 annual statistical report published in June 2025, assaults (11,744) and sexual violations (1,265) were among the top ten offences by arrests in 2024.

The report noted that in terms of the distribution of crimes against persons in that same year, assault made up 79.7 percent while sexual violations came second at 11.4 percent.

Condemnation

The release of high-risk offenders back into the community has been drawing condemnation from federal, provincial, and municipal politicians.

In March, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said a convicted killer should “rot in jail” after the Parole Board of Canada granted “high-risk offender” Darren Scott Ray a 72-hour unescorted temporary absence permit in Oshawa. Ray was found guilty nearly 40 years ago of sexually assaulting and strangling a 14-year-old boy to death.

Oshawa MP Rhonda Kirkland, who was also critical of the Parole Board’s decision, took to social media to express her disapproval.

“My neighbours in Oshawa shouldn’t have to be told to look over their shoulders while a convicted killer gets a weekend pass,” she said on X on March 2. “Public safety must come first. Always.”

In February, Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke said she had written to the federal government to express concerns after a high-risk sex offender was released to live in her city.

The Surrey Police Service (SPS) said 58-year-old Marinus Willemse, who was released from custody under strict conditions on Feb. 13, is “believed to pose a significant risk to women and children in the community.”

Shortly after the SPS announcement that day, Locke said in a statement that she would write to the federal justice minister to express her “firm [belief] that we cannot, as a society, allow such individuals amongst children, mothers and families.”

“If this means that Marinus Willemse must remain in jail indefinitely – then so be it,” she wrote.