Charges laid following alleged hate-motivated incident on OC Transpo

Ottawa Police sign outside headquarters on Elgin St. in Ottawa. (CTV News Ottawa)

The Ottawa Police Service says a 19-year-old woman has been charged following a reported hate-motivated incident on an OC Transpo bus.

Police say the incident happened at around 10:35 a.m. Sunday. A woman boarded an OC Transpo bus at Billings Bridge and allegedly confronted two passengers with racial slurs and threats. When another passenger intervened, police say he was assaulted.

Special constables arrested the woman before Ottawa police arrived.

On Tuesday, police said the woman had been charged with three counts of mischief, two counts of criminal harassment, two counts of uttering threats, one count of assault, and one count of breach of peace bond.

She is due in court on Thursday.

Police say the Hate and Bias Crime Unit has taken charge of the investigation, and investigators are working to identify and speak with additional witnesses.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Service Hate and Bias Crime Unit at 613-236-1222, extension 2015.

Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or online at crimestoppers.ca.

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