Article content continued

It took until Oct. 29, 2013, but eventually the police Technological Crimes Unit found several files on the computer, including one of Mayor Ford “consuming what appears to be a narcotic,” the document says.

Attempts to sell the video started at least in February, when a CTV cameraman was asked if there was a market for it, although none of those discussions were caught on tape by police as the Project Traveller probe did not start tapping phones until March 18, 2013.

Once the Traveller wires were up and running, it did not take long for the spectre of the mayor to appear in the police probe.

Although police have not been able to confirm it, the wiretaps have two men talking about an apparent attempt by Mayor Ford to buy the video from them, suggesting he offered a car and $5,000.

The police hoped the phone records would shed light on this possible attempted transaction.

“Attempts were made by investigators to speak to Mayor Ford and Lisi in relation to our investigation. However, Mayor Ford and Lisi refused to provide statements,” the document says.

Police told a judge there are reasonable grounds to believe crimes have been committed and the data from phones and videos will give them the proof.

The document notes that Mayor Rob Ford has remained in “constant contact” with Lisi throughout the course of this investigation.

The document provides more details about alleged attempts by Lisi to negotiate the return of Mayor Ford’s cellphone, which he lost at the Basso’s Windsor Road home on April 20, 2013. According to a summary of wiretap conversations, Lisi allegedly extorted Siyad by saying “that if he did not get the phone back there would be heat put on Dixon.” Police say that Lisi successfully traded marijuana for the cellphone. The extortion charge against Lisi relates to attempts by him to retrieve the mayor’s cellphone and also the video of Mayor Ford.