Ottawa police say they’ve laid hate-motivated charges against two people for a vandalism incident earlier this month in Barrhaven.
A viral video from a front door camera emerged earlier this month of two people launching eggs at their neighbour’s home while making racist comments.
The pair mock Asian languages with imitative gibberish while standing on their driveway in early June. One of them declares he “f–king hates Asians” because “they’re so ugly and can’t talk English.”
A woman living in the home that was targeted told CBC News her family, who has South Korean roots, has endured “unimaginable pain” over the past two years as a result of continuous noise and harassment stemming from the problematic household.
Since January 2023, Ottawa’s bylaw department has received more than 90 complaints about loud music originating from the home.
Jaime Quigley, 46, and 36-year-old Mathew Galipeau, each from Ottawa, have both been charged with mischief causing damage to property under $5,000 and criminal harassment, specifically by threatening conduct directed at another person.
The charges are considered hate-related, said Ottawa police in their Friday news release, which could mean harsher penalties if there’s a conviction.
They said in separate social media posts the incident was disturbing and its diversity relations unit has reached out to affected communities to offer support.
In a call with CBC on June 13, Galipeau identified himself as the ex-husband of Quigley and told CBC his family members are in fact the real victims in an ongoing neighbourhood spat. As “one of the only white families” in the area, he said they were the ones being bullied.
The man had originally agreed to answer CBC’s questions about the saga and share evidence supporting that different narrative, but he cancelled the meeting at the last minute, saying he was retaining a lawyer.
The accused are scheduled to appear in court July 24.