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Three people are facing charges after separate “hate-motiviated” incidents that resulted in serious injuries during the weekend, Ottawa police said.
The first incident occurred on an eastbound LRT train near Tremblay Station on Saturday at about 6:40 p.m. A person was riding on the train when two individuals approached them and started a conversation, police said in a news release Monday.
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“Unprovoked, the two accused began to assault the victim while uttering hate-filled and derogatory comments in relation to the victim’s race,” the release read. “When the victim did not respond to the comments, one of the accused then assaulted the victim with a weapon.”
While exiting the train, the accused continued shouting “hate filled messages” loud enough for all those on the train to hears, police said.
The victim was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
On Sunday night, three people were injured, including one who was taken to hospital in serious condition, after assaults in the Centretown and Chinatown areas, police said.
Between 8:45 p.m. and 10:15 p.m., police received three separate calls regarding incidents on Laurier Avenue West, Bronson Avenue and Bank Street.
“The Central Criminal Investigations Section was engaged as the series of assaults were believed to be hate related since all three victims were of Asian descent and the suspect description for each assault was similar,” a news release Monday stated.
Kevin Belisle, 32, of Ottawa was charged with two counts of assault, as well as aggravated assault and mischief. The Hate and Bias Crime Unit continues to investigate and further charges may be laid, police said.
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Those with information regarding Sunday’s incidents or any others that may have involved Belisle were asked to contact the Ottawa Police Service Hate Crime Unit at 613-236-1222, extension 5015.
In Saturday’s incident, Phillip Hudson-Berry, 35, of Ottawa was charged with aggravated assault; assault with a weapon; possession of a weapon dangerous to the public; uttering threats; mischief, obstruction of property; causing a disturbance; and mischief. Dillon Graham-Laurence, 30, of Ottawa was charged with assault; assault with a weapon; mischief, obstruction of property; causing a disturbance; and breach of probation. Both appeared at show cause court on Sunday and were remanded into custody.
Police encouraged those who witness hate-motivated incidents to report them to police. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stopper toll-free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or at crimestoppers.ca.
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