Peel Regional Police arrest two youths following hate-motivated incident

PEEL Regional Police’s investigators from the 11 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau have arrested and charged two youths following a hate-motivated incident in the City of Mississauga.

On February 24, at approximately 3:10 a.m., two suspects attended the area of Iona Secondary School located at 2170 South Sheridan Way in Mississauga. The two suspects proceeded to spray paint derogatory and offensive phrases on a sidewalk that leads up to the school property.

School resource officers were made aware of the incident and commenced an investigation. As a result of the investigation and with the assistance of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, two 17-year-old males, both of Mississauga, were arrested and charged with mischief under $5,000 on March 16. Both males were released with a future court date in April.

The names of the two males cannot be released because a general provision of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (Y.C.J.A.) prohibits the release of the name of a young person.

School resource officers worked diligently on this investigation and relied upon relationships that have been established within the school community to help bring it to a successful conclusion, police noted.

Police want to remind members of the public on the importance of immediately reporting graffiti so steps can be taken to have it removed and police can conduct timely investigations.

Anyone with information in relation to this incident is asked to call investigators at the 11 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau at (905) 453–2121, ext. 1133. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or by visiting  www.peelpolice.ca.