Mayfair tire slasher faces trial on new charges

The so-called “Mayfair tire slasher” waived his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday, and could be headed to another trial on tire-slashing charges.

David Toledo, 47, who was sentenced to probation in May 2014 after he was found guilty of slashing his neighbors’ tires, was arrested again just months later after he allegedly propped a glue mouse trap with nails poking out under the tire of a SEPTA bus.

Toledo faces charges of attempted criminal mischief, possession of an instrument of crime, and harassment.

On November 19 last year, at around 5:30 a.m. a SEPTA driver spotted Toledo running from the 1600 block of Creston Street, just a few blocks from the Frankford Transportation Center. The driver alerted another SEPTA employee who discovered the device.

“It wasn’t until Mr. Toledo left that one employee called to another employee and they realized what it was and reported it to police,” said prosecutor Lauren McHale.

According to a Fox 29 report, numerous SEPTA drivers in the same area had found glue traps with nails or punctured their tires on such traps prior to the arrest.

Toledo was first busted in April 2012 and charged with nearly 50 slashings over the previous six months throughout Mayfair.

Prior to his arrest, Toledo threatened to “smash” the hands of the slasher in an interview for NBC. He had also volunteered with the Mayfair Town Watch as a look-out for the tire slasher, offered assistance to police, and even slashed his own tires.

Prosecutors sought five to 10 years, but Toledo was sentenced to two years’ probation and ordered to pay $900 in restitution.

A mental health evaluation to determine whether Toledo has a compulsion to slash tires has been requested, McHale said. She said she has no opinion on whether mental illness may be a factor in these crimes.

Toledo works as a butcher, according to NBC.