One man charged after hate-motivated assault

One man has been charged following a hate-motivated assault that occurred in a parking lot in the northeast community of Coral Springs.

On Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at approximately 4 p.m., a man was driving his work van in the 5000 block of Falsbridge Gate N.E., when an SUV pulled up behind him at a stop sign. The driver of the SUV began honking and followed the man into a nearby parking lot. As the man stopped his vehicle, the other driver began swearing and shouting racial slurs while throwing garbage at the victim who remained inside his parked vehicle.

The suspect then got out of his vehicle and approached the victim’s van, while continuing to shout, before kicking and punching the victim’s van. The victim and another occupant of the vehicle remained inside while the man repeatedly punched the glass of the driver’s side window, in what they believed was an attempt to gain access to the victim. The passenger then began to film the interaction, after which the suspect returned to his SUV, continuing to hurl racial slurs, and then drove away. The passenger was able to get the licence plate of the SUV the man was driving, and once safe reported the incident to police.

On Thursday, March 7, 2024, police arrested one man in relation to the incident.

Christopher Whitney MACPHERSON, 39, of Calgary, has been charged with one count of assault and one count of mischief. Both charges have been deemed hate-motivated. MACPHERSON was also arrested on an outstanding warrant in relation to a previous charge of mischief, which has also been determined to be hate-motivated.

He will next appear in court on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.

“This assault took place as the victim and his family were going about their day in our city,” says acting Sgt. Matt Messenger of the Calgary Police Service Hate Crime Prevention Team. “Being attacked at random, based solely on the colour of your skin, is absolutely unacceptable and we are committed to ensuring there is no place for hate in Calgary.”

Hate-motivated crimes are recognizable crimes, like assault, theft, vandalism or any other crime, where the offender was motivated by bias, prejudice or hate that is based on one of nine personal characteristics of the victim. If you see hate, report it. Visit www.reporthate.ca for more information on how and why to report.

TALK: 1-800-222-8477

TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org

APP: P3 Tips

Case #: CA23305788/4757