On July 15, 2021 The Toronto Police Service issued the following statement:
The Toronto Police Service has made an arrest in two separate hate-motivated assault investigations.
On Tuesday, July 6, 2021, at 8 a.m., police attended a call for a disorderly person at Stanley Park in the King Street West and Walnut Avenue area
It is alleged 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 assaulted a person by throwing an object at them
– the man was located and arrested nearby
Michael Park, 32, of Toronto, was charged with:
1. Interfere with use and enjoyment of park by others (Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 608)
2. Use profane/abusive language in park (Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 608)
3. Assault with a weapon
On Saturday July 10, 2021, at 10:30 a.m., police responded to a call for an assault in the Yonge Street and Glen Elm Street area.
It is alleged that:
– the victim was walking southbound on Yonge Street when a man walking northbound showed him a non-permanent drawing of a swastika on his chest
– the man was then heard yelling anti-Semitic slurs towards a group of people
– the victim confronted the man about his language
– the victim was then punched multiple times by the man
– police located the man a short distance away
Michael Park, 32, of Toronto, was charged with:
1. Assault
He attended court on Saturday, July 10, at Old City Hall, room 112. He is next scheduled to appear at College Park Court on Thursday, July 15, 2021, via video.
After consultation with the Service’s specialized Hate Crime Unit, both investigations are being treated as hate motivated.