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Ex-Ont AG Bryant says he’s innocent of charges laid in bike courier’s death

The former Ontario cabinet minister criminally charged in the death of a bicycle courier says he’s innocent of the accusations against him.

TORONTO — The former Ontario cabinet minister criminally charged in the death of a bicycle courier says he’s innocent of the accusations against him.

Michael Bryant made the comments in a statement Wednesday announcing his resignation as CEO of Invest Toronto, a brand-new corporation tasked with attracting investment to the city.

“Let me be clear: I am innocent of the very serious accusations made against me,” Bryant said in the statement.

“I do not believe, however, that I can continue in this position on account of the circumstances of the past two days.”

The former attorney general is facing charges of criminal negligence causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death after an alleged confrontation Monday night with bicycle courier Darcy Allan Sheppard.

Police say Sheppard, 33, grabbed onto a car following an alteraction with the driver. They say the driver drove way with Sheppard hanging on. He then fell and suffered fatal injuries.

Sheppard’s girlfriend says he was drinking the night he died.

Misty Bailey said Sheppard was drunk when he visited her and he rested and slept, then insisted on going home.

Bailey said she didn’t ask him to leave and would have loved for him to stay where she knew he’d be safe.

Sheppard, at one point, was in the back of a police cruiser and she asked police to drive him home, but instead they let Sheppard go, she said.

Police have said they responded to a call about Sheppard barely an hour before his death, but added there were no allegations of criminal activity.