Police search for man wanted in violent assault, robbery on Christmas Eve

Toronto police are searching for a 36-year-old man in connection with an alleged violent assault and robbery on Christmas Eve.

Police say just before 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, a man approached a woman in the Queen Street West and University Avenue area and began choking her. Investigators say it was an unprovoked attack.

Then, just before 7 p.m., the same man went into a business in the Yonge Street and Wellesley Street East area and threatened an employee with a hammer before taking several items and fleeing the scene.

Police say they are looking for Byron Johnson of no fixed address. He is wanted for one count of assault/choking and one count of robbery with a weapon.

Johnson is described as six-feet tall, 200 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black winter jacket, a white sweater with the hood up, khaki pants, and white shoes. He was also carrying a brown backpack.