Police release photo of Calgary hate crime suspect
Calgary police provided updates on alleged hate crimes reported in recent weeks, releasing a photo of a suspect in one and saying an arrest has been made in another.
A woman and her son were at the Centre Street LRT station on May 30 when a man pushed the boy and began following and harassing the woman until a bystander intervened.
The woman felt they were targeted because of race.
"As officers worked to find the suspect, a man matching the suspect description was taken into custody later that day on an unrelated matter," police said.
"The subsequent investigation found that the same man is believed to be responsible for the earlier assault and that he may also be responsible for at least four other incidents over May 30 and 31, against people believed to be targeted due to race or religion.
"Four incidents were reported to police while several others were observed in the evidence gathered on CCTV."
Carter Justin MacDonald, 31, is charged with two counts of assault, one count of causing a disturbance in public and breach of a probation order.
He is scheduled to appear in court on June 9.
Police also released photos of a woman believed responsible for a potential hate-motivated assault against an Asian woman.
A man and a woman were walking on the George C. King Bridge near the Bow River pathway about 8 p.m. on May 7 when a group of five teens riding bicycles rode past them.
As the group passed the couple, one of the youths allegedly threw a frozen water bottle at the couple, striking the woman in the head.
"Although none of these cases are connected, the one thing that binds them is the lasting impact these attacks have on the victims, their families and their communities," police said.
"It is incumbent upon all of us to step in when we see unacceptable behaviour by calling police and offering support to victims. Witness information and photos are assets in any investigation."
Police also continue to investigate a number of other offences — including a road rage incident — and a woman's allegation she was spit on and called a racial slur.
Any evidence of a hate motivation is considered by the courts as part of sentencing after a person is found guilty of a connected crime.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.