Calgary police are asking the public for their help in identifying a man who is believed to be responsible for a hate-motived assault last month in the city’s southwest.
On June 24, at approximately 2:20 p.m., a man and a woman were at a marked crosswalk at the intersection of Southland Drive and Southport Road S.W., waiting to cross the street, when an unknown man approached the couple and physically struck the other man. The suspect was heard shouting a racial comment before leaving the area on foot.
The man and woman reported the incident to police, and after exhausting all investigative avenues, officers are turning to the public in hopes of identifying the suspect.
The suspect is described as having a light complexion, with a straggly blond beard, wearing a blue athletic compression T-shirt and black pants.
Any evidence of hate motivation is considered by the courts after a person is found guilty of the connected crime. If the judge decides during sentencing that hate was a motivation for the offence, it is an aggravating factor that can add to the convicted person’s sentence.
“There is no place for hate in our city,” say Calgary police. “Hate-motivated crimes are recognizable crimes, like assault, theft, vandalism or any other crime, where the offender was motivated by bias, prejudice or hate that is based on one of nine personal characteristics of the victim. If you see hate, report it. Visit www.reporthate.ca for more information on how and why to report.”
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Calgary Police Service non-emergency number at 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers through either of the following methods:
TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
TEXT: P3 App
CA25269180/5971
