Calgary police seek suspect in potentially hate-motivated assault

Calgary police investigate a potentially hate-motivated assault on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (CPS handout)

Calgary police are looking to the public for help identifying a man they believe may be responsible for a potentially hate-motivated assault last month.

The assault happened at the intersection of Southland Drive and Southport Road S.W. just before 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24.

Police say a man and woman were waiting to cross the street in a marked crosswalk when a stranger approached them and hit the man.

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“The suspect was heard shouting a racial comment before leaving the area on foot,” police said in a Monday news release.

The suspect is described as having a “straggly blond beard” and wearing a blue athletic compression T-shirt and black pants.

“Any evidence of hate motivation is considered by the courts after a person is found guilty of the connected crime,” police explained. “If the judge decides during sentencing that hate was a motivation for the offence, it is an aggravating factor that can add to the convicted person’s sentence.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police at 403-266-1234.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers.