Mayor Rob Ford’s occasional driver is facing four drug related charges, including possession and trafficking of marijuana.  Toronto Police confirm 35 year old Alexander Lisi, otherwise known as Sandro or Dro, was arrested and charged and will appear in Old City Hall court this morning.  Both Lisi and 47 year old Jamshid Bahrami were arrested last evening at 250 Wincott Drive, which is a dry cleaning shop in the Richview Plaza in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation.  There are also reports a search warrant was conducted at a nearby home, said to be owned by Lisi’s parents.

A Toronto Star investigation recently revealed that Lisi has told three associates he has supplied drugs to Mayor Ford, a claim that has not been verified by either Lisi or the Mayor.

According to two eyewitnesses, unmarked cruisers and other police vehicles swept into the plaza and boxed in Lisi, who had just arrived in his black Range Rover.  Detectives apparently took Lisi out of the vehicle and handcuffed him.  Other officers rushed into the cleaners and brought out a man described by witnesses as the owner.  Neighbours in the building tell the Star, that man has struggled with substance abuse.

Police have interviewed at least five former staffers in the mayor’s office about attempts by people to retrieve the alleged video of Mayor Ford apparently smoking crack cocaine.  Globe and Mail sources say some of the questions police asked of the former staffers focused on Lisi who is a regular late night companion of the mayor’s who was known to drive him to events.  Mayor Ford has declined to answer detailed questions about his relationship with Alessandro Lisi, who goes by Sandro or Dro, only describing him as “a great guy and straight as an arrow.”