Marcella Zoia

Woman who threw chair from Toronto balcony surrenders to police

The woman who is believed to have been filmed this weekend throwing chairs off the balcony of a high-in-the-sky Toronto condo unit has turned herself in, according to police.

Marcella Zoia, 19, is being charged in connection with a mischief - endanger life investigation that was sparked when video footage went viral of someone tossing patio furniture over the fast-moving traffic of Toronto's Gardiner Expressway.

TPS Staff Sgt. Ron Boyce told reporters this morning that Zoia, who lives in Toronto, surrendered to police at the service's 52 Division near Dundas and Simcoe Streets around 7 a.m. this morning.

Footage shot by Breakfast Television and uploaded to Reddit shows the young woman entering the station this morning before sunrise. She was wearing a black Moose Knuckles parka trimmed with white fur at the time.

Later in the video, she can be seen through a window standing inside the police station wearing heavy makeup with her hair exposed.

Suspect in chair throwing video surrenders to police [video] from r/toronto

Many on Reddit noted that her appearance in this shot matches that of the woman in a (now-deleted) Instagram account that's been floated around as the chair tosser's in recent days.

The name of that account was @marcellacz_.

Police said on Tuesday that they had already identified the suspect after receiving a "significant amount of information" from the public, but that they were giving her a chance to contact a lawyer and surrender before issuing a warrant for her arrest.

Marcella Zoia

A photo of Marcella Zoia that was posted to her now deleted Instagram account.

Zoia is scheduled to appear in a College Park courthouse for a bail hearing this morning after being charged with mischief— endangering life, mischief to property, and common nuisance.

Nobody was injured in the chair-throwing incident, according to police, though the story could have ended differently.

"People were absolutely outraged," said.Const. David Hopkinson to CP24 on Wednesday morning of the chair toss video. "That is likely why we got so much help from the public."

"I know for myself when I saw the initial video I just thought it was very callous," he continued. "No regard for anybody that might be passing underneath. I can think of some pretty horrific situations."

Lead photo by

Instagram/marcellacz_


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

This is why we still have mounted police in Toronto

Ontario might see rainy and unpleasant weather for 2024 Victoria Day weekend

Yet another shocking GTA shopping mall jewellery store robbery caught on video

Toronto neighbourhood is getting a stunning new boardwalk near a ravine

Canada will have best chance to see Northern Lights this weekend in almost 20 years

Metrolinx shows off basically complete Toronto LRT that you still aren't allowed to ride

A 'zombie' virus is running rampant among Toronto raccoons

An invasive insect is threatening the destruction of Ontario forests