A Calgary man is facing hate-motivated charges after allegedly shouting a series of racial slurs on a bus last month.
Police say a Calgary Transit bus was traveling along 31 Street SW when a man walked in front of the bus and forced him to stop before reaching a bus stop.
The driver opened the door and let the man get into the bus, after which he sat directly behind the driver. It is claimed the man started shouting ‘racist’ and ‘derogatory’ things at the driver.
A passenger asked the man to stop, but he allegedly continued to shout racial slurs at the driver and other passengers for more than ten minutes. The man eventually got off the bus at another stop.
Investigators say they were able to identify a suspect after reviewing security footage and additional video footage and gathering witness statements.
Police have charged 62-year-old Calgary resident Darren Andrew Hobbs with one count of criminal intimidation and one count of causing a disturbance. Both charges have been deemed motivated by hate.
The suspect will appear in court in August.
“We know that incidents fueled by hate impact not only the victim, but also the people who witness them,” said Const. Matt Messenger of the Calgary Police Service’s hate crime prevention team. “In this case, the witnesses were Calgarians of all ages who had access to public transportation to get to school or work, and who may now not feel safe in their own communities.”
Police remind residents to report incidents of hate by calling 403-266-1234 or visiting www.reporthate.ca.
