On Sunday, October 15, 2023, at approximately 2:50 p.m., Northwest Branch patrol officers were dispatched to a disturbance in the area of 110 Street and 153 Avenue. When officers arrived, they located a male suspect who was acting aggressively, yelling racial slurs and uttering threats directed at the Muslim community. Police attempted to arrest him, but he resisted. Officers were eventually able to take the suspect into custody with no injury to the officers or the suspect.
The 50-year-old male suspect has been charged with mischief (interfering with the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property), uttering threats and resisting arrest. The EPS Hate Crimes Unit is also recommending that Section 718.2 of the Criminal Code of Canada be applied in this case, allowing the courts to consider increased sentencing when there is evidence the offence was motivated by hatred.
The name of the man cannot be released at this time because the charges have not yet been sworn.
The EPS takes hate-motivated incidents and crimes very seriously. These events hurt not only the victim, but the vicarious trauma has an impact on entire communities. Hate incidents can now be reported online. Hate crime should be reported to police at 911 if it’s an emergency, or 780-423-4567 if it is not an emergency.
For more information about the difference between hate-motivated incidents and hate-motivated crime, visit the EPS website.