Arrest Made in Suspected Hate-Motivated Mischief Investigation, Dufferin Street and Yorkdale Road area

Unit:

Case #: 2024-366161

Published: Thursday, March 28, 2024, 10:55 AM

The Toronto Police Service is making the public aware of an arrest made in a Hate-Motivated Mischief Investigation.

It is alleged that:

• between January 20 and March 26, 2024, washrooms within a retail business in the area of Dufferin Street and Yorkdale Road area were vandalized
• the vandalism consisted of antisemitic graffiti

On Tuesday, March 26, 2024, Rashid Kurmally, 80, of Toronto, was arrested and charged with:

1. seven counts of Mischief Under $5000

He is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice, 10 Armoury Street, on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at 2 p.m., in courtroom 202.

This investigation is being treated as a suspected hate-motivated offence.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-3506, 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.