Ontario Review Board
Re: Abdulla Johnson
ORB File No. 8651
Hearing Date: Monday, May 5, 2025
Hearing Location: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto
Pursuant to: Section 672.47(1) of the Criminal Code;
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Ms. L. Banks
Members: Dr. T. Verny Dr. S. Wiseman Mr. W. Apted Mr. K. McKenna
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Abdulla Johnson Counsel: Mr. C. Mills
The Person in charge of Hospital: Counsel: Ms. M. Warner
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. V. Culp
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated June 19, 2025)
Introduction
Mr. Johnson was found not criminally responsible (NCR) for the criminal code offence of assault with a weapon on October 21, 2024.
A panel of the Ontario Review Board (the panel) convened this initial hearing on May 5, 2025, at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
At the commencement of the hearing the Hospital recommended the imposition of a detention order with privileges that extended to indirectly supervised passes into the community of the GTA, as well as, a prohibition from the use of alcohol and other substances, a prohibition from the possession of weapons and incendiary devices, and the obligation to provide urine samples for the purpose of testing for the consumption of substances.
Counsel for the Attorney-General supported the position of the Hospital, and suggested that Mr. Johnson should refrain from contact with the victim of the index offence.
Counsel for Mr. Johnson also supported the position of the Hospital, but requested that Mr. Johnson be permitted to possess a lighter for the sole purpose of lighting his own cigarette.
The panel concluded that Mr. Johnson was a significant threat to the safety of the public, and that a detention order was necessary and appropriate. The panel also accepted the terms recommended by the Hospital as being appropriate, and will permit Mr. Johnson to possess matches or a lighter for the sole purpose of lighting his own cigarette or cigar.
Index Offence
- The following is a synopsis of the index offence which occurred on October 10, 2023.
The accused, Mr. Abdulla Johnson, and the victim, …, are strangers and had never met. On Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at approximately 8:43am, the accused, was inside the Coffee Time located at 2146 Danforth Ave, in the City of Toronto. The accused was waving a wooden stir stick, threatening the customers inside of the establishment and swearing. The accused said things like “fk” and “gonna bet (sic) your ass” and “fk off”. The accused reached over the counter and grabbed scissors. An employee at Coffee Time asked for the scissors back, but the accused advised that he would give them back when he was done. The accused used the scissors on his shoes, in particular his shoelaces. The accused put the scissors back after a few minutes. He started yelling. Eventually he left and said they can call police. After the accused left the Coffee Time, he walked westbound on Danforth Ave toward Woodbine Avenue, Toronto. He encountered a woman and witnesses observed him punch her in the back of the head. The woman did not remain on scene and left the area.
The accused made his way to Main St and Danforth Ave. He encountered the victim who was walking in the accused’s direction. The accused, unprovoked, hit the victim in the face with a metal can of Ensure meal replacement beverage that he had in his hand. The accused threw the can on the ground, turned around and started yelling and swearing at the victim.
The victim was transported to hospital. She suffered a bump and bruising around her eye, and experienced a concussion with headaches.
Hospital Report dated April 21, 2025
The Hospital Report dated April 21, 2025 was prepared for this hearing, and contains a detailed review of Mr. Johnson’s personal and mental health history. The panel was also provided with the court related documents, a victim impact statement from Ms. Neill, and a psychiatric assessment report dated August 21, 2024.
The Hospital Report refers to a description of the index offence provided by Mr. Johnson to Dr. Van during the preparation of the psychiatric assessment report. At the time of the index offences he was living in a tent at Main and Danforth. Soon after waking up, he smoked a little bit of cannabis. He intended to attend the methadone clinic and the library which was his typical routine, but stopped at a coffee shop to tie his shoes. His shoe laces would not go in the holes, and he described the holes shrinking. He felt something mystical happening. He reported that something was always going on in his mind; he was being “attacked mentally by the voices which go on and on.” He had no recollection of punching anyone after leaving the coffee shop. He then went to the pharmacy to obtain his methadone, but became frustrated when there was a delay getting his methadone. The pharmacy gave him 6 cans of the Ensure beverage. Mr. Johnson advised that he was walking down the street with his head down and accidentally bumped into a woman. He denied hitting the woman with a can of Ensure. He was listening to what was going on in his mind, and said that “he was hearing voices all day long which was a regular occurrence.”
Mr. Johnson is diagnosed with:
(i) Schizophrenia;
(ii) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder;
(iii) Substance Use Disorder, sustained remission within a controlled environment;
(iv) Cluster B (Antisocial) Personality Traits.
Mr. Johnson has a criminal record that begins with convictions in 1991, when he was a youth, and continues to 2018. He has 18 convictions including an assault with a weapon in 2016. He advised Dr. Van that he was charged with trespassing, but that “the voices were holding him there. The voices had me mesmerized and I lit a fire.”
Mr. Johnson was born in Toronto and has 4 siblings, including an older sister Simone whom he sees weekly. His parents divorced in the 1970s, and his mother died in November 2023.
Mr. Johnson’s education ceased after grade 9. He was expelled from school after being convicted of extortion and stealing answers to tests. He then attended a vocational school for a short period of time but quit at the age of 16. Mr. Johnson then began to hang out on the streets and use drugs. He began using cannabis in grade 9 and other drugs by the age of 18.
Mr. Johnson has been employed at several entry level positions. All of these jobs lasted a short period of time.
Prior to his incarceration for the index offence Mr. Johnson was living in a tent in the woods for the previous 3 months. Before this he was living on the streets and in shelters. Mr. Johnson had resided in his own apartment supported by the Woodgreen Community Services for approximately 5 years. In 2022, there was a fire in his apartment resulting from Christmas tree lights. Although Mr. Johnson described the fire as an accident he was evicted from the apartment.
In addition to his cannabis use Mr. Johnson began using cocaine at the age of 18. He advised that he stopped using cocaine in his 30s. He has also used heroin, Percocets, oxycodone and methamphetamine (meth) for the last 15 years. Mr. Johnson reported using meth monthly.
Mr. Johnson has an extensive history of admissions to hospital and community care to treat his drug use and mental health issues. The hospital admissions were often a result of his mother using Form 2 of the Mental Health Act. On one occasion in 2016, his mother reported that her son was very agitated and irritable, and for the previous 2 years was complaining of his body being invaded by aliens and worms. She described verbal aggression and the destruction of property in her home. Mr. Johnson was referred to the Forensic Early Intervention Service (FEIS) at CAMH. On numerous occasions Mr. Johnson was referred to FEIS by the staff at the Toronto South Detention Centre (TSDC) when he was in custody, and his behaviour was observed to be bizarre. The Hospital Report refers to an incident on April 15, 2016 when Mr. Johnson was in custody. The staff at TSDC reported that Mr. Johnson had strange cleaning rituals and was regularly picking at his head. He was observed to urinate on clothing at the base of his door, and stated that it was in order to keep bugs away.
Mr. Johnson was hospitalized from May 2 to June 1, 2016. He was accompanied to the hospital by his mother and admitted under a Form 1. It was reported that Mr. Johnson was yelling in the bathroom, rubbing lotion on his head, and repeatedly brushing his teeth, at his safe bed in the community. He flooded the safe bed area and set fire to his belongings. He indicated at the time that he was worried about aliens in his mouth and on his head. He screened positive for amphetamines, cannabinoids and benzodiazepines.
On June 6, 2016, Mr. Johnson’s mother reattended CAMH seeking their assistance. She reported that Mr. Johnson had flooded his new apartment, activated the fire hydrants and fire extinguishers, covered his unit with feces, and smeared butter on his face. He had also been verbally threatening to staff and co-residents at his building. From June 9 to June 16, 2016, Mr. Johnson was admitted to hospital.
On March 21, 2020, Mr. Johnson was taken to the emergency department by his mother and the police. His mother reported that Mr. Johnson was experiencing auditory hallucinations that were telling him to harm himself. He locked the door in an attempt to prevent the police from entering his home. Mr. Johnson’s mother reported that her son told her daily that he heard voices and experienced suicidal ideation.
Mr. Johnson consulted monthly with addiction medicine physicians at the AMS clinic from October 2022 to September 2023. Their medical records often referred to Mr. Johnson as tangential, disorganized, and exhibiting paranoia. He was described on occasion as being disruptive and screaming at staff.
Following the finding of NCR Mr. Johnson was admitted to CAMH in January 2025 to a secure forensic unit. He adhered to his recommended psychotropic medications and evidenced symptomatic improvements.
During the initial stages following his admission Mr. Johnson experienced somatic preoccupations that were likely psychotic in nature according to the Hospital Report. This included a belief that his collar bone had shifted and his knuckles were smaller. With the introduction of paliperidone the somatic preoccupations declined.
Mr. Johnson also engaged in compulsive behaviours related to concerns with contamination. He would wash his hands each time he touched any surface or items provided to him by staff. Sertraline was prescribed which resulted in less intense obsessive compulsive symptoms.
There were no concerns with Mr. Johnson returning to substance use, but it was recommended that the methadone be continued.
Mr. Johnson has utilized his yard passes appropriately, and has participated in the dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), concurrent disorders program, early substance use, and mental health and recovery groups.
Reference is made to his insight into his illness and treatment in a Psychology Report dated March 26, 2025. Mr. Johnson does not believe that he has schizophrenia, but rather, he experienced a drug induced psychosis. Regarding medication, Mr. Johnson expressed not knowing why he is taking medication, but stated that he would continue with the medications if directed by his physician.
Mr. Johnson was administered the Personality Assessment Inventory. The clinical profile noted significant elevation on the drug scale and problems associated with drug use. It also revealed an unusual degree of concern with physical functioning and health matters, and probable physical impairment arising from somatic symptoms. The profile noted compulsiveness and rigidity consistent with his obsessive-compulsive presentation.
In regard to motivation for treatment, his profile suggests that he is satisfied with himself as he is, and that he sees little need for changes in his behaviour. It concludes that engagement in treatment will require monitoring and supervision.
The Psychopathy Checklist- Revised, was also administered. His score places him in the moderate range for the presence of psychopathic traits.
The Hospital Report lists 5 historical risk factors that are relevant to assessing his risk to the public: violence, other antisocial behaviour, substance use, major mental disorder, and his response to treatment.
The Hospital Report also indicates that, while in hospital, Mr. Johnson has continued to experience residual somatic delusions and functional impairments stemming from the experience of psychosis. The Report concludes that Mr. Johnson is a significant threat to the safety of the public and that a detention order is necessary.
Testimony Dr. D. Jaiswal
Dr. Jaiswal has been treating Mr. Johnson since his admission to CAMH following the index offence. He testified at this hearing to supplement the evidence provided in the Hospital Report.
Dr. Jaiswal stated that Mr. Johnson was only taking methadone prior to his admission, and that he is now taking paliperidone and sertraline in addition to the methadone. He advised that Mr. Johnson has been assessed as capable to consent to his psychiatric treatment. The doctor noted that Mr. Johnson OCD symptoms have declined in intensity since his admission.
Dr. Jaiswal indicated that Mr. Johnson has been engaged in various therapeutic programs, and that there have been no episodes of violence or aggression.
Dr. Jaiswal further indicated that the future treatment plan will include therapy for the obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and developing increased insight into his diagnoses and the need for treatment. In the long term, the doctor commented that the recommendation of his treatment team will likely be to transfer his medication to a long-acting injectable in order to ensure adherence.
Mr. Johnson’s privileges will be increased as the year progresses assuming he remains mentally stable and is able to exercise his increasingly liberal privileges appropriately and without accessing illicit substances.
Dr. Jaiswal advised the hearing that Mr. Johnson is on a wait-list to be moved to a secure forensic unit, which may then be followed by a move to a general forensic unit. The doctor testified that each move to a different unit within the forensic system takes approximately 4 weeks.
The treatment team would like to see Mr. Johnson maintain his level of engagement in programs and avoid the use of substances.
Dr. Jaiswal offered that Mr. Johnson’s history of fire-setting may be a concern to potential future housing placements in the community. Dr. Jaiswal did not object to Mr. Johnson being provided with a lighter for cigarettes while on hospital grounds.
There were no questions for Dr. Jaiswal from either Crown Counsel or counsel for Mr. Johnson.
In answer to questions from the panel, Dr. Jaiswal advised that the move between units could possibly happen more quickly than monthly intervals.
Dr. Jaiswal further advised that Mr. Johnson currently has limited insight into his diagnoses and symptoms, and his need for treatment. When unwell, Dr. Jaiswal does not believe that Mr. Johnson would be forthcoming with information pertaining to his mental or emotional health. He indicated that there is an overlap between schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
It is Dr. Jaiswal’s opinion that Mr. Johnson is a significant threat to the safety of the public, and that a detention order is necessary and appropriate.
Submissions
- The parties continued to present a joint submission for a detention order at the conclusion of the evidence.
Analysis
After considering the evidence the panel accepts that Mr. Johnson is a significant threat to the safety of the public, and that a detention order is necessary and appropriate.
Mr. Johnson has a lengthy history of psychosis together with a lengthy history of substance use which has exacerbated his symptoms. He has amassed a substantial criminal record which includes offences of violence.
His history also includes incidents of fire setting in residential dwellings which could have resulted in serious harm to other tenants.
Mr. Johnson has had numerous admissions to hospital for psychiatric treatment, often after being taken to the hospital by his mother after she witnessed psychotic symptoms and bizarre behaviour.
Mr. Johnson has been involved with various community psychiatric treatment teams for many years, and the evidence indicates that he regularly stopped taking his medication and engaging in treatment. Dr. Jaiswal describes Mr. Johnson’s insight into his illness and the need for medication and other forms of treatment as limited.
Mr. Johnson is currently compliant with his medication within the highly structured and staff supervised environment of the hospital. He is currently mentally stable. To is credit, he has demonstrated significant effort in engaging in therapeutic programs, even though he does not accept his diagnosis of schizophrenia.
It is essential that Mr. Johnson’s compliance with treatment be monitored and supervised by the Hospital at this time. Without such scrutiny, Mr. Johnson would most likely stop taking his medication, disengage from programs, which would result in increased psychotic symptoms and violent behaviour which would put public safety at risk.
It is very encouraging that Mr. Johnson has applied himself to the various therapeutic programs that are available, and that he is currently mentally stable while properly medicated.
In coming to this conclusion, the panel has applied the principles provided in s. 672.5401 of the Criminal Code.
DATED this 19th day of June, 2025, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Mr. K. McKenna
Legal Member
Office of the Registrar
Ontario Review Board