FEBRUARY 28, 2024 – The Toronto Police Service is making the public aware of an arrest made in a suspected hate-motivated Mischief investigation.
Between February 20 to 26, 2024, police responded to multiple calls for service for mischief in several parks within the downtown core in the Spadina Avenue and Front Street area.
It is alleged that:
- the accused spray-painted graffiti on multiple City of Toronto properties, including the Al Waxman Statue
The Toronto Police Service Hate Crime Unit investigated the incidents and identified the accused.
On Monday, February 26, 2024, Matthew Doyle, 41, of Toronto was arrested and charged with:
- five counts of Mischief Under (one count is suspected hate-motivated related to the Al Waxman Statue)
He was scheduled to appear at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, 2201 Finch Avenue West, on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at 10 a.m., in courtroom 301.
This investigation is being treated as a suspected hate-motivated offence.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-3500, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.
When suspected hate-motivated offences are reported to police, the investigation could be led by a Divisional investigator with the support of the Hate Crime Unit (HCU), or in some cases, will be investigated exclusively by the HCU.
If it is alleged a criminal offence was committed (such as assault or mischief) and it is believed to have been motivated by bias, prejudice or hate, the officer-in-charge may consult with the Crown. If a person is charged and convicted of the offence, the Judge will take into consideration hate as an aggravating factor when imposing a sentence.
Wilful promotion of hatred and advocating genocide are hate propaganda (hate speech) offences which require the Attorney General’s consent to lay charges. These charges are often laid at a later time.