Police release video of suspect wanted in hate-motivated assault in Toronto's west end
Toronto police have released a video of a suspect who allegedly assaulted a man and yelled racist slurs at him in the city's Junction Triangle neighbourhood last month.
Police said they got a call for an assault near Bloor Street West and Symington Avenue at 4 a.m. on June 27.
A man was riding his bicycle when another man allegedly pushed him off and caused him to fall to the ground.
Police allege the suspect then assaulted the victim while hurling anti-Black slurs. The suspect also allegedly threatened the victim before taking his bicycle.
The interaction was caught on a surveillance camera, which police released on Wednesday. It shows the cyclist and the suspect arguing in the bike lane.
The suspect then picks up the bike, making a throwing motion at the cyclist, before putting it down.
Police said the victim went to a hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
In addition to the video, investigators also released a photo of the suspect, who is described as a light-skinned male, 20 to 30 years old, five-foot-eight, and was last seen wearing a black backwards baseball cap, white shirt, dark pants, and white shoes.
Suspect
Police say the man in the photo is wanted in a hate-motivated assault investigation. (Toronto police handout)
Police said they are investigating the assault as a hate-motivated incident.
Anyone with information about the suspect's identity and whereabouts is asked to contact investigators at 416-808-3500 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
11 minutes ago
- CTV News
Calgary family ‘devastated' after 11-year-old autistic boy comes home from school with unexplained injuries
Eleven-year-old Purnayan Mohanta — known as Tirtha — came home from Pineridge School on May 29 with what his father described as 'brutal' injuries. A Calgary family is calling for an independent investigation after their non-verbal, autistic son returned home from school with multiple bruises, scratches and bite-like wounds. Eleven-year-old Purnayan Mohanta — known as Tirtha — came home from Pineridge School on May 29 with what his father described as 'brutal' injuries. 'We just saw these bloody scratches all over his body so brutally,' said Partha Mohanta, Tirtha's father. 'Our son left for school as a happy, healthy child and came home traumatized with severe injuries. The school has offered no clear explanation. We are devastated.' Injuries, July 18, 2025 The parents of an 11-year-old Calgary boy who is non-verbal and autistic are calling for an investigation into his injuries suffered May 29. (Mark Villanii, CTV News) According to his parents, Tirtha, who is non-verbal and in Grade 5, returned from school with several marks across his body — including his inner thigh, neck, chin and shoulder — along with apparent bite wounds on his arm. Mohanta says the family immediately sought medical attention. 'Based on the observation of our family doctor, we were told it appears he was physically hit or abused and that the bite mark on his shoulder and back 'could not have been done by himself' so somebody has done something.' Tirtha's mother, Mousumi Mohanta, said the discovery also left her devastated and has had to take a leave of absence from her work to now provide extra care for her son. 'As a parent, it is heartbreaking when I see my son with a lot of bruises, a lot of marks like this on his body,' she said. Injuries, July 18, 2025 Tirtha's mother, Mousumi Mohanta, said the discovery also left her devastated. (Mark Villani, CTV News) 'He is special. He is non-verbal. So I can feel as a mom the real pain he is going through. He is the most lovable person, not violent at all, he's very calm, loves to go outside, a good student, good listener, and learner so now we are seeking the truth.' Family frustrated The Mohanta family says they contacted Pineridge School and the Calgary Board of Education immediately after noticing the injuries. 'We talked to the front desk receptionist, and they said everybody's so busy, they didn't see our email that we sent,' said Mousumi. 'So our first impression was really frustrating for us, we felt so ignored.' Partha says multiple attempts were made to speak with the assistant principal, the principal, and the CBE area director. He says the school initially told him no staff observed the incident or saw any injuries. 'I was told by the school staff that no one has seen the incident. No one noticed these marks as well,' said Partha. 'My son often wears shorts to school so I was confused at how no one was even noticing these injuries on his legs, they were very, very much visible.' Partha adds that he was later told by Pineridge school staff that an educational assistant admitted to seeing the marks on Tirtha between 10:30 and 11 a.m. the day of the incident and reported it to a teacher — but the school never notified the parents. 'If anything unusual is seen from the kids, the school is supposed to contact the parents,' said Partha. 'If they don't get any suspected answer, they should contact Child Protective Services.' Mousumi says she also just wants to ensure schools are safe for all children — especially those who cannot speak for themselves. 'We need to assure that school can be a safe place for all children,' she said. 'Please take care of your kids. Do not ignore small, small reasons. Be serious about every case.' Autistic injuries, July 18 Note following investigation into injuries sustained by 11-year-old Calgary boy who is autistic and non-verbal. (Mark Villani, CTV Calgary) No incident observed: school board In a statement, the Calgary Board of Education said it conducted a 'comprehensive investigation' involving all school staff connected to the student, as well as the transportation service provider. 'No staff member observed any incident or interaction that could account for these injuries occurring at school,' the CBE said. 'The investigation also concluded that the class was adequately supervised.' The board says it remains in contact with the family and has developed a plan to support Tirtha's return to school in the fall. 'The school has been in contact with the Calgary Police Service. We remain willing to cooperate fully with any external agency, including CPS, should further information become available or should additional inquiries be initiated,' read the statement, 'We are committed to supporting Tirtha's safety, well-being, and educational needs moving forward.' CTV News has also reached out to Alberta's Ministry of Education for comment, but has yet to hear back. Investigation remains open: CPS The Calgary Police Service confirmed its child abuse unit has taken over the case. 'We appreciate the public's patience as we continue to investigate,' police said in a statement to CTV News. 'Investigations such as this can take additional time due to witness statements, medical and digital evidence.' The Mohanta family says it contacted police the same day the injuries were discovered but was told the school's internal findings showed no criminal activity. The hope from family members now is that the involvement of the child abuse unit will lead to a more thorough review. Systemic changes and accountability needed: Autism Calgary The executive director of Autism Calgary says the situation involving Tirtha reflects deeper systemic problems in Alberta's education system — particularly for students with complex needs. 'We've seen a substantial decline in resources provided to teachers to support students with diverse learning needs,' said Lyndon Parakin. 'It's gone from worrying about whether education goals are being met to worrying about whether your child will be safe.' Parakin says the loss of specialized supports, such as behavioural consultants and classroom therapists, has made it harder for teachers to meet the needs of autistic students — especially those who are non-verbal or have significant sensory and behavioural challenges. 'These are families that are struggling to keep their employment because their students are sent home on a regular basis,' he said. 'They come home often in a more diminished capacity than they went to school, and school is not proving to be a safe space for them.' He adds that recent changes to Alberta's mandated instructional hours are only making matters worse. This fall, all school divisions must meet new baseline requirements — 950 hours for Grades 1-9 and 1,000 hours for Grades 10-12 — limiting flexibility for school boards to offer modified schedules for students with complex needs. 'Instead of empowering educators to tailor hours and supports for kids who need a different kind of day, the government is locking everyone into a single standard,' said Parakin. 'It's removing individualized programming at a time when the system is already stretched.' He says the province needs to revisit its approach to inclusive education and introduce clear, enforceable standards around safety, staffing ratios, and the training required for working with high-needs children. 'It's not enough to say every child belongs in the classroom,' said Parakin. 'We need to ensure the classroom is equipped and the staff are prepared. Otherwise, we're setting these kids — and these families — up to fail.' Parakin is now calling on the province to launch an independent review of Alberta's inclusive education system and implement stronger accountability for how school boards respond to incidents involving vulnerable children. 'Our kids are suffering,' he said. Weekend rally planned The Mohanta family is planning a peaceful demonstration outside Calgary City Hall this weekend to raise awareness and demand a third-party investigation. The rally is scheduled for Sunday, July 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 800 Macleod Trail S.E. The event is open to the public and being organized through a Facebook event page. 'This is not just about our child — it's about ensuring that no other vulnerable student suffers this kind of trauma again,' said Partha. 'We're inviting all parents, educators and concerned citizens to stand with us.' The family says other parents have reached out with similar stories and are encouraging those affected to speak up.
CTV News
11 minutes ago
- CTV News
1 person hospitalized after driver crashes into Bells Corners Metro
A section of the wall of the Metro on Robertson Road in Bells Corners was damaged after a car was driven into it Friday, July 18, 2025. (Peter Szperling/CTV News Ottawa) The Ottawa Police Service says driver error led to a crash Friday afternoon into the wall of a grocery store in Bells Corners. First responders were called to the Metro on Robertson Road at around 2:45 p.m. Police say a man in his 90s was driving the vehicle. The Ottawa Paramedic Service says the senior was taken to hospital as a precaution with minor injuries, while a second man was assessed at the scene and released. The Metro remains open.
CTV News
11 minutes ago
- CTV News
Police acted reasonably in death of man during well-being call in 2019: inquest report
An inquest report into the death of a man over five years ago following an encounter with Winnipeg police says police and emergency officials did the best they could in the circumstances, and there was nothing they could do differently to save the man. Aaron Ross, 29, died on Sept. 30, 2019, one week after officers responded to a well-being call near the riverbank on Assiniboine Avenue near Kennedy Street. According to the inquest report, Ross was observed to be naked and behaving erratically and tried to head towards the river. Officers restrained him and handcuffed him while waiting for the Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service to arrive. During the incident, Ross became unresponsive and needed to be resuscitated at the scene. He was taken to hospital, but it was found he suffered a catastrophic brain injury when he went unresponsive. He died in hospital a week later. In her decision, Judge Sandra Chapman said police officers and paramedics all did the best they could with the training they had. 'In this case, there is no evidence that the police or medical personnel could have done anything more than they did,' she wrote. An autopsy found that Ross had methamphetamine in his system at the time of his death, and his cause of death was determined to be an 'anoxic brain injury' linked to the cardiac arrest and the 'excited delirium' he was experiencing at the time. Excited delirium sees a person's adrenaline increase to the point that their heart rate goes up, and it could induce cardiac arrest. It added that the 'physiological stress of struggle and restraint by police' was a factor in Ross' death, but was not related to the immediate cause of death. 'The officers only intervened with Mr. Ross when his safety was in question and did so in a manner that was the shortest time possible,' Chapman wrote. 'There is no evidence to suggest that they used any excessive force while restraining Mr. Ross. And all evidence suggests the force used was reasonable in the circumstances.' The report noted police training stipulated that officers should not physically engage with an individual experiencing an agitated chaotic event—a term WPS now uses in place of excited delirium—to keep them as calm as possible until a medical team can arrive. The independent Investigation Unit cleared police of any wrongdoing in 2021.
