Mayor Rob Ford calls police after ambush by 22 Minutes actress Mary Walsh
Mr. Ford described the encounter as "two people who didn't identify themselves" running up and trying to get into his car. After his daughter got scared and retreated into the house, Mr. Ford followed her and called 911, he said Monday evening. "I'm open to games ... and I'm open to the media," said Mr. Ford, noting he has received death threats in the past. "But when you come to my private house early in the morning and ambush me I think that crosses the line. "
NATIONAL POST STAFF PHOTO
Emergency call: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford sports a Hamilton Tiger Cats jersey during a city council meeting at Toronto's city hall, Monday afternoon. He had Miles Austin Jerseys
earlier called police after being 'ambushed' by the CBC's Mary Walsh
. The mayor added that he would do "anything" to protect his family. "So, I just hope someone else doesn't do that again because I just don't want anything serious to happen," he said.
Mr. Donovan says 22 Minutes planned the ambush after Mr. Ford turned down requests for a formal interview. "Almost always, we try to set up something more formal and more staged, but if that doesn't work ... we'll sometimes stage an ambush. "
In 2009, 22 Minutes was criticized by the Ontario NDP after actress Geri Hall ambushed Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty while Mr. McGuinty was discussing US Steel's decision to shut down former Stelco mills in Ontario. "I don't think we'll stop doing ambushes , "then-executive producer Mark Farrell told CBC News at the time.
Mr. Donovan took a similar position. "We see it as critical to the process of being a parody show,"
The segment is scheduled to air Tuesday night at 8:30.