Gang sex assault charges filed against owner, manager of Little Italy bar

A Toronto bar owner and manager are now facing multiple gang sex assault charges after a 24-year-old woman was allegedly sexually assaulted and forcibly confined inside a Little Italy bar lastDecember.

Toronto residents GavinMacMillan, 41, and Enzo De Jesus Carrasco, 31, were first arrested and charged by 14 Division shortly after the alleged assault, which beganon the evening of Dec. 14, 2016, and continued untilthe early morning hours of Dec. 15 at College Street Bar.

• 2 men charged after woman allegedly confined, sexually assaulted in Little Italy bar

Both men were later released on bail, saidDet.Marina Garlandof Toronto police'ssex crimes unit, which has taken over the investigation.

"After the original charges were laid, wereceivedadditional evidence and information," Garland said.

She said both men were arrested again on Monday. The pair appeared in court on Tuesday and both were again released on bail.

Neither man has a prior criminal record, according to a search performed by a courtclerk.

Bar owner, manager facing multiple charges

MacMillan, who Garlandsaid ownsCollege Street Bar, is now facing charges of forcible confinement, trafficking in schedule substance, failure to comply with recognizance, and four counts of gang sexual assault.

MacMillanis known in the bartendingcommunity as a "flair bartender," an entertainment-based style involvingtricks with shakers and bottles.

Over the years, he's made numerous television appearances showcasingflairbartending, and designed a Canadian bartender training program calledBartenderOne.

Carrasco, the bar manager, is facing charges of forcible confinement, trafficking in schedule substance, four counts of gang sexual assault, and three counts of sexual assault.

Police said the 24-year-old woman was allegedly sexually assaulted and forcibly confined in the bar and given illicit drugs as well asalcohol.

Garland said the woman is still in contact with police and is assisting the investigation. She wouldn't comment on whether anyone else was involved in the alleged incident.

Alleged assaultprompted outcry

The alleged sexual assault has prompted public outcry from activist groups throughout the past month.

In late December, attendees at a protest held at College Street Barby the Sexual Assault Action Coalition, or SAAC,posted notes of support to sexual assault survivors.

More than 1,600 people have also signed a petition launched by the group to shut the bar down.

On a broader scale, SAAC is developing training programs for the employees and bar owners on protocols and practices that create safe spaces.

Called the Dandelion Project, the training programs align themselves withBill 132, the province's Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act, said co-founder Viktoria Belle.

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"It's about collaborating with the staff themselves to find out what their issues are," said Belle.

"One bar might say, we really need a PSA in the bathroom to let women know they can come to the bar and ask for a yellow ticket, and a yellow ticket means get me out of here and the staff know the protocol for that. Another bar might have a universal number to text."

The group is hoping to introduce the training programs to bars by the end of the summer and is currently applying for grant money to get the project off the ground,with the eventual goal of producing a training manual for use by establishments across North America.

"The service industry needs it," Belle said.

The provincial governmentfunded two training projects that are being developed to help staff in the restaurant and hospitality industry to intervene if they see others employees or customers become targets of sexual assault or harassed, according to a ministry spokeswoman.

The training guidelines are being developed by the Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association and Tourism HR Canada.

It's unclear when staff could actually sign up for training.