CPS investigating hate-motivated incident involving a firearm

The Calgary Police Service is investigating what they believe may have been a hate-motivated crime in the community of Valley Ridge.

A release from CPS states that a man from the area reported that three strangers had pulled up beside him outside his home on the 100 block of Valley Crest Close NW in a grey Nissan Altima, threw garbage at him, yelled a racial slur, and showed him what appeared to be a handgun.

The alleged incident took place around 8:30 pm on Tuesday, February 26.

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All three suspects are believed to have been Caucasian, with one of the passengers being described as having a medium build and short hair.

“Incidents where people are targeted for mistreatment because of a protected ground like race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation are very concerning to us,” said Constable Craig Collins, Hate Crimes Coordinator with the Calgary Police Service, in the release.

“The fact that a firearm may have also been used to further intimidate this man makes this case even more serious.”

The release also noted that, while no additional charges are laid as a result of police finding that a crime was motivated by hate — which, by CPS’ definition, “are crimes where the offender is motivated entirely or in part by bias, prejudice, or hate that is based on any of 9 personal characteristics of the victim,” namely race, national or ethnic origin, language, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression — any evidence of hate-motivation can be presented before a judge and may result in a stronger sentence.

Anyone who may know further information about the incident, or who may have CCTV footage of the area, is asked to contact the Calgary Police Service’s non-emergency number of 403-266-1234, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-8477 or visiting their website.