Man charged in two hate-motivated attacks targeting Toronto's Jewish community wanted on surety warrant
Toronto police have issued a surety warrant for a man charged in two separate attacks targeting the city’s Jewish community earlier this month.
In a news release issued Friday, police said that Michael Park, 32, was “originally” released on bail with a surety, but added that this is “no longer the case.”
The first incident occurred on July 6 at 8 a.m. at Stanley Park, in the area of King Street West and Walnut Avenue.
At that time, police said that a man with a non-permanent drawing of a swastika on his chest was yelling anti-Semitic slurs towards an individual.
The man then allegedly assaulted a person by throwing an unidentified object at them. The suspect was located by police in a nearby area and arrested. He was charged with interfere with use and enjoyment of park by others, use profane/abusive language in park, and assault with a weapon.
Four days later, police said officers responded to a call for an assault near Yonge Street and Glen Elm Street at 10:30 a.m.
In that incident, police said the suspect was walking northbound on Yonge Street when he showed a victim walking in the opposite direction a non-permanent drawing of a swastika on his chest.
The suspect then began hurling anti-Semitic slurs at a group of people, according to police, before being confronted by the victim about his language.
Police said the victim was punched “multiple times” by the man.
He was located by police a short distance away and was arrested. He was charged with assault.
An assault in the area of Yonge Street and Glen Elm Avenue from July 10, 2021 is pictured in this still image from a video released by UJA Federation of Greater Toronto. (Handout)
Last week, the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto released videos of both incidents, which they said pointed to an “alarming rise” in hate-motivated harassment.
"Like all members of society, Jews should be able to walk down the street with confidence in our safety and security,” the group said in a statement.
“Antisemitism is a scourge that is quickly spreading throughout Canada and around the world. Over the past few months, Jewish Canadians - already the most targeted religious minority in this country according to Statistics Canada - have witnessed an alarming rise in hate-motivated harassment, vandalism, and assault.”
According to Toronto police, Jews were targeted in approximately 30 per cent of all hate crimes in the city in 2020, the highest proportion of any one group.
Both incidents are being treated as hate motivated following consultation with the Toronto Police Service’s specialized Hate Crime Unit.
Police could not provide CTV News Toronto with any specifics regarding Park's original bail only saying that "the surety is no longer in place.”
Park should be considered dangerous, police said. If seen, members of the public are asked not to approach him but instead call 911.
Anyone with information related to the investigations is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
With files from CP24’s Joshua Freeman
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.