Hamilton man charged in connection with hate-motivated graffiti in city’s downtown

Hamilton police have arrested a Hamilton man after hate-motivated graffiti was spray-painted onto a building in the city’s downtown core in September.

Officers say on Sept. 11, “hate bias-motivated graffiti” was found on the side of a building in the area of James Street North and Murray Street West.

Surveillance video captured a man spray-painting a Hakenkreuz — more commonly referred to as a Nazi swastika — onto the building.

Detectives say a recent media release and community witness accounts led to the arrest of a 31-year-old man from Hamilton in connection with the investigation.

Police have not released any information on the man, but say that he has been charged with mischief to property.

Hate-motivated graffiti is more than an act of vandalism, says Hamilton police: “It is an attack on the dignity of individuals and communities,” a statement reads.

Anyone with information on hate-motivated graffiti is urged to contact the Hate Crime Unit at 905-546-5511 or to email hatecrime@hamiltonpolice.ca.

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