Have you seen this man? Winnipeg police investigating hate graffiti along Pembina Highway
Winnipeg police are looking for a man in connection to a string of businesses along Pembina Highway hit with hateful graffiti including swastikas last week.
On Thursday, police said at least 10 businesses along Pembina Highway were vandalized between midnight and 4 a.m. on July 22.
"The real concerning nature of this is that the graffiti was swastikas – consistent in all cases," said Const. Rob Carver.
"I think everyone is attuned to how hateful and how dangerous graffiti of this type can be."
Carver said there is no underlying theme that links swastikas or hate graffiti to the businesses that were vandalized. He said the businesses appear to be a random selection.
Tehran Cafe spray-painted with swastikas on Wednesday. July 21,2021. (Source: Paul Clerkin/Twitter)
Tehran Cafe spray-painted with swastikas. (Source: Paul Clerkin/Twitter)
Hate crime investigators from Winnipeg police's major crimes unit are investigating the vandalism.
"At the moment it is being investigated as a potential hate crime because it is swastikas," Carver said.
"When you've got 10 businesses along a major thoroughfare that are all tagged with a swastika, that certainly crosses a threshold where we need to look at it as someone trying to send a hate message – whether or not it is a hate crime is still yet to be determined."
A man who appears to be in his 20s or 30s was caught on surveillance video spray-painting a window of a store in the area.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:
Police said the man was wearing lime-green shorts, a plaid shirt, along with a red and white cap. Police said he also had a distinct black gym bag slung across his body.
Hate Crimes investigators are asking for the public's help to identify the man.
Carver said spray paint vandalism of any kind is considered a property crime, but police devote much more resources when there is graffiti that could be a hate crime.
"There is an element that is much more concerning – it comes with risks that are beyond simple property damage," Carver said.
Any other businesses that were hit with graffiti, or have video surveillance, are asked to call the major crimes unit at 204-986-6219, or leave an anonymous tip at Crime Stoppers by calling 204-786-8477.
The full list of businesses that police said were hit with the graffiti include:
- a bank in the 1300 block of Pembina Highway;
- a church in the 1700 block of Pembina Highway;
- a gift shop in the 1800 block of Pembina Highway;
- a cafe in the 1800 block of Pembina Highway;
- a supermarket in the 1800 block of Pembina Highway;
- a medical centre in the 2000 block of Pembina Highway;
- a law firm in the 2100 block of Pembina Highway;
- a drugstore in the 2200 block of Pembina Highway;
- a medical centre in the 2300 block of Pembina Highway; and
- a hair salon in the 2800 block of Pembina Highway.
-With files from CTV’s Devon McKendrick.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.