Cornwall police launch hate crime investigation

(Newswatch Group/Bill Kingston, File)

CORNWALL – The Cornwall Police Service confirmed Thursday it has launched a hate crime investigation reported to them earlier this week.

The statement came following Cornwall Newswatch’s coverage of a man in his 20s targeted with race-based graffiti on his car on Lefebvre Avenue.

The CPS says it was reported to them on Tuesday, July 26 and an investigator from the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) has been assigned to the case.

The police department says it has investigated 69 hate-based incidents since 2018, including 20 so far this year.

It says in five hate crime cases so far this year, charges have been laid against individuals.

Depending on the charge, CPS has to get authorization from the Ministry of the Attorney General to lay charges.

Deputy Chief Vincent Foy stated that the “CPS is committed to our vision of a safer Cornwall for all our residents.”