A 21-year-old Peterborough woman is facing multiple charges following three incidents in downtown Peterborough early Wednesday morning (July 10), including one incident Peterborough police have classified as a hate crime.
At around 12:20 a.m. on Wednesday, officers responded to a report of an assault. When officers arrived, they learned the female victim had been walking in the Charlotte Street and George Street area when she was approached by a woman walking with two men. The woman ran at the victim with a knife, calling her names based on the colour of her skin. The victim began to run away but fell, at which point the woman caught up to her, punched her in the face, and pulled her hair.
The victim was treated at the scene by emergency medical services before being taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre for further treatment. Police have classified the incident as a hate crime.
As officers were investigating this incident, police received another report of an assault involving three suspects who matched the description of those in the first assault. In the second incident, a male victim said he was approached by two men and a woman in the Hunter Street and Bethune Street area and was punched in the face and kicked by the two men.
While officers were investigating the second incident, police received a report of a third incident involving the same suspects. In the third incident, the female suspect verbally threatened a woman in the Brock Street and George Street area.
Officers investigating the third incident noticed a woman matching the description of the female suspect a short distance away. When the female suspect saw the officers, she began to run. The officers chased her on foot and took her into custody without incident.
As a result of the investigation, police have arrested and charged a 21-year-old Peterborough woman with two counts of uttering threats to cause death, assault, assault with a weapon, and possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose.
The accused woman is bound by a probation order with the condition of keeping the peace and being of good behaviour, and has also been charged with two counts of failing to comply with probation.
The accused woman was released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court on August 20.
Police are also searching for the two male suspects in the three incidents.
They have been described to police as being Caucasian and possibly 16 to 18 years old, both with shaggy hair. One suspect was wearing a white shirt, dark-coloured shorts, a white hat on backwards, white shoes, and a blue backpack.
Anyone with information is asked to call Peterborough police at 705-876-1122 ext. 555. If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at stopcrimehere.ca.
