.jpg;w=954)
THUNDER BAY – A Thunder Bay teen faces criminal harassment and assault charges over what police describe as a hate-motivated crime.
The charges come after the 14-year-old allegedly assaulted a fellow student at a local high school. The assault followed previous instances of racially-motivated bullying and assault, the Thunder Bay Police Service said in a release.
Police were dispatched to an area on the city’s north side around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday to check on the welfare of a male youth.
Officers confirmed his well-being and determined he had been the victim of a recent assault.
In a release, police said the youth had been the victim of an unprovoked assault by a male classmate at a local high school.
Police learned of a previous report in which the victim had been attacked by the same accused male.
The TBPS said it had also previously cautioned the accused about bullying behaviour toward the victim that included the uttering of racial slurs.
“Despite the caution, the racially-motivated bullying continued,” the force said in a statement. “Investigators concluded the assault and criminal harassment against the victim was motivated by hate.”
Officers arrested a 14-year-old male on Wednesday following an investigation.
The accused was taken into custody and transported to TBPS headquarters Wednesday afternoon. He faces a charge of criminal harassment and another charge of assault.
He appeared in bail court on Thursday and was released with conditions and a future appearance date.
Police said they will not release further details about the nature of the hate motivation in an effort to protect the identity of the victim.
The identify of the accused is being withheld in accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
