SASKATOON — Update Aug. 14: Saskatoon police have charged a 31-year-old man following an investigation into eggs being thrown at a building and vehicles associated to a faith-based organization.
Through investigation and with public assistance, the suspect was identified as a 31-year-old man from Dundurn. Following his identification, arrangements were made for him to turn himself in to the Saskatoon Police Service Headquarters on Aug. 13 where he was charged with three counts of mischief under $5,000 and later released on conditions.
“As a police service, we recognize the significance of incidents that target faith-based communities and the impact on their sense of safety and belonging,” said Saskatoon Police Service Superintendent James Oliver.
“Upon receiving the police report, the Community Engagement Division and the SPS Hate Crimes Unit were engaged, and with assistance from the community, the suspect was identified, arrested, and charged with mischief. In Canada, ‘hate crime’ is generally used as an umbrella term, not a specific charge under the Criminal Code. Any evidence that an offence was motivated by bias, prejudice, or hate is considered by the court as an aggravating factor during sentencing.”
Original story Aug. 5: Saskatoon police are investigating a mischief incident at a faith-based organization in the 700 block of McKinnon Avenue South, after the building and multiple vehicles were egged over the weekend.
On Aug. 4, members of the Saskatoon Police Service investigating the incident learned that a man had gone to the building on Aug. 1 at around 11:30 a.m. with a carton of eggs and proceeded to throw them at multiple vehicles and sections of the building.
Mapping data shows that Congregation Agudas Israel, also referred to as the Jewish Community Centre, located at 715 McKinnon Avenue South, is the only faith-based building in that block, though police didn’t identify the organization involved.
Police were able to observe video surveillance of the incident. The suspect is described as a man with a dark-coloured beard and shorter brown hair. He was wearing a black T-shirt with the word “boo” and a white ghost on it and a black ball cap at the time.
The Saskatoon Police Service is continuing to investigate and anyone with information that may be able to assist in the investigation or identify the person in the photo is asked to contact police at 306-975-8300 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
