Rob Ford's Danforth sojourn causes a stir online

A trip to Taste of the Danforth last night by Rob Ford has re-heated the controversy surrounding the Toronto mayor since the so-called crackgate scandal. Numerous reports from witnesses allege that something was "off" about Ford as he made his way to the annual street festival. In one video being circulated online, Ford is seen walking alone just west of Danforth and Greenwood outside a Beer Store, clutching a large Tim Horton's cup. In another, he appears to be rambling incoherently while walking along Greenwood.

"We're going to go up to the party, man," he says groggily as he prepares to have his photo taken with a group of young people. Just before starting to move away, he says "I gotta get these kids to play football."

In the videos Ford appears to be minus his staff and any sort of guidance. In a separate video, Ford is near his car, most likely on Greenwood, announcing "I'm not driving, I'm not driving." He mutters something, then begins to walk away, declaring "I'm [inaudible], you know me, brother."

A third, 7-second shot captures Ford saying "I wanna go up to the Danforth, let's go party."

News of the unexpectedly friendly walkabout came as the Toronto Sun (yep, not the Star) broke a story alleging a drug dealer burst in to Rob Ford's home in January 2012, demanding to be paid.

"You owe me money, your sister owes me money, if I don't get it, they will kill me," Scott MacIntyre, an ex-boyfriend of Ford's sister Kathy, recalled in a Finch Ave. courthouse in April last year. It's not clear from the court documents ordered by the Sun what the debt involved.

He was later corralled by members of his staff and a significant number of police outside Guardian Drugs just west of Jones, but not before reigniting questions related to his behaviour and earlier controversies that have dogged him.

Here's a sampling of his sojourn last night as it appeared on social media.

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: jaimecastillo6/Instagram