Hamilton police say pair of hate crimes target city’s Jewish community
The Hamilton police hate-crime unit says its probing two separate incidents of anti-Semitism, both of which took place in the city this week.
Police announced the incidents - one taking place downtown and the other in the Westdale neighbourhood - through two different press releases on Friday.
In the first media release, police said they were investigating after anti-Semitic messages written in black marker were found scrawled on various locations in the area of Main and Bay streets.
Police believe the incidents are connected because the messages all appear to be written with the same type of permanent marker, include similar words, and were written between Sunday, Sept. 4, and Tuesday, Sept. 6, said Const. Indy Bharaj.
McMaster University security alerted police on Monday after finding anti-Semitic messages written on a sign and in a seating area at Main and Bay streets.
A review of security footage captured the alleged suspect in the act on Sunday.
Police were also called by the City of Hamilton for graffiti scrawled on a bus stop at Bay and King streets Sunday.
The city called police again Monday after a similar anti-Semitic message was found written on the sidewalk outside the federal building at 55 Bay St. N.
The suspect captured on video is described as a Black man, in his 30s to 50s, with a larger build and short black hair. He wore a black sweater, jeans, red running shoes and carried a black backpack.
In the second press release, police said a 22-year-old Hamilton man had been arrested in connection to a break-in at a Westdale home, in an incident they're now investigating as a hate crime.
Police said at approximately 12:40 a.m. on Sept. 6, a male suspect broke into a home in the area of Haddon Avenue South and Main Street West, where he was allegedly targeting members of the Jewish community."
The man has been charged with committing a break and enter and disobeying a court order.
Police said they are now working with the victims, the Jewish Federation of Hamilton and community members to ensure their safety."
The incidents come months after Hamilton police reported a 35 per cent increase in hate incidents in the city - 108 in 2021 compared to 80 the previous year. Hate crime arrests in Hamilton also tripled, according to police statistics, jumping to 21 from eight.
Nearly all hate crimes and hate incidents reported in Hamilton last year targeted Black, Jewish, Muslim and LGBTQ communities, according to police.
Anyone with information in relation to the two incidents is asked to call hate crime Det. Fabiano Mendes at 905-546-5678.
To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppershamilton.com.
Nicole O'Reilly is a crime and justice reporter at The Spectator. noreilly@thespec.com