Police have charged a 31-year-old Peterborough man with mischief and obstructing a peace officer in connection with several incidents related to antisemitic flyers being distributed in neighbourhoods throughout Peterborough — and are consulting with the provincial government on an additional charge of wilful promotion of hatred.
Between May and July, antisemitic pamphlets were reported in the area of Parkhill Road West and Crowley Crescent, in the Medical Drive and Weller Street area, in the Lansdowne Street and George Street area,in East City, and the Wolsely Street and Chemong Road area. In total, police received 19 reports of the antisemitic flyers from residents.
“There is no room for hate in our community at any time,” said Peterborough police chief Stuart Betts in a media release in July. “The number one goal of the Peterborough Police Service is public safety, and the service is committed to this goal.”
After a four-month investigation, last Friday (September 15), officers with the Peterborough Police Service’s Investigative Services Unit conducted a search warrant of a residence and located items connected to the distribution of the antisemitic flyers. During the investigation, the suspect in the case provided police with a false name and address.
As a result, a 31-year-old Peterborough man was arrested and charged with mischief and obstructing a peace officer. The accused man was released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court on September 26.
“I would like to thank the investigators and officers involved in this investigation,” says Peterborough police chief Stuart Betts in a media release issued on Tuesday (September 19). “It was important to do a thorough investigation into the origin of this disturbing material and speaks to our continued commitment to public safety.”
Police say they are consulting with the Ministry of the Attorney General to have the incidents deemed as a wilful promotion of hatred under Canada’s criminal code, which is an indictable offence punishable with a prison term of up to two years.
“Police must balance constitutional rights with the Criminal Code of Canada which makes investigations very complicated,” reads a police media release. “Before laying some hate-motivated or bias-motivated criminal charges under the Criminal Code of Canada, police are required to conduct an investigation and then turn the file over to the local Crown Attorney’s office and get consent from the Attorney General’s Office.”
There are several charges under the criminal code that require the Attorney General’s consent before charges are laid: advocating genocide, public incitement of hatred, wilful promotion of hatred, and wilful promotion of antisemitism. Advocating genocide is punishable with a prison term of up to five years, with the other charges each punishable with a prison term of up to two years.
