Man with swastika drawing on his chest arrested for hate-motivated assaults

Toronto police have arrested a man in connection with two separate hate-motivated assaults, during which he had a “non-permanent drawing of a swastika” on his chest.

The incidents took place on July 6 and 10 and in both cases, the man allegedly yelled anti-Semitic slurs at people.

The first incident took place in Stanley Park around 8 a.m. and the man assaulted someone by throwing an object at them.

He was arrested and charged with interfere with use and enjoyment of park by others (Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 608), use profane/abusive language in park (Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 608) and assault with a weapon.

The second incident took place in the Yonge and Elm street area. The victim was walking south on Yonge street when the man walking northbound showed him the drawing of the swastika on his chest and yelled anti-Semitic slurs at a group of people.

The victim confronted the man and was punched multiple times by him. Police found the suspect a short distance away and he was arrested and charged with assault.

Michael Park, 32, of Toronto, appeared in court on July 10 and was scheduled to appear via video again on Thursday.

Mayor John Tory released a statement saying anti-Semitism has no place in Toronto.

“It shocks me that I’m faced with having to say it again after the recent footage of a man harassing and assaulting members of Toronto’s Jewish community.”

Read the mayor’s full statement below:

As I have made very clear on many different occasions, anti-Semitism has absolutely no place in our city.

It shocks me that I’m faced with having to say it again after the recent footage of a man harassing and assaulting members of Toronto’s Jewish community. pic.twitter.com/UukfKBqVqd

— John Tory (@JohnTory) July 15, 2021