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
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
2 teens charged in Halifax homicide: police
Two teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection to an alleged homicide near the Halifax Shopping Centre earlier this week.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.
12-year-old hippo in Japan raised as a male discovered to be a female
When Gen-chan arrived at a zoo in Japan in 2017, no one questioned whether the then-five-year-old hippopotamus was a boy. Seven years later, zoo staff made a surprising discovery: Gen-chan, now 12, was female.
Here's why Harvey Weinstein's New York rape conviction was tossed and what happens next
Here's what you need to know about why movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction was thrown out and what happens next.
Legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole dies at 90: CBC
Bob Cole, a welcome voice for Canadian hockey fans for a half-century, has died at the age of 90. Cole died Wednesday night in St. John's, N.L., surrounded by his family, his daughter, Megan Cole, told the CBC.
Humanist group threatening to sue Vancouver over council prayers
The B.C. Humanist Association has threatened legal action against the City of Vancouver for allowing prayers at council, following a similar warning issued earlier this month to a smaller community on Vancouver Island.
LHSC performs a Canadian first in robot-assisted direct lateral spine surgery
Spine surgery may never be the same for people with chronic back pain and other physical ailments.