Police searching for suspect who spray painted hate-motivated graffiti on Hamilton business

Police in Hamilton release surveillance video of a suspect spraying hate-motivated graffiti outside a business.

Hamilton police are searching for a man accused of spraying painting hate-motivated graffiti on the outside of a downtown Hamilton business.

Police say the incident happened on Sept. 11 at a business in the James Street North and Murray Street West area. A timestamp on surveillance video from the business indicates it took place at around 4:10 a.m.

The video shows a man dressed in a sports jersey with the number ‘99′ on it walk into the alley.

He paces up and down the alleyway once, and then takes a bottle of spray paint out of his pant pocket and points it at a wall.

The video stops before he starts spraying.

Police say the suspect spray-painted a “Hakenkreuz, commonly known as the Nazi Swastika” on the wall.

They describe the suspect as a male with a medium build and facial hair.

“Hate-motivated graffiti is more than property damage—it is an attack on the dignity and safety of our community," Hamilton police said in a release issued Tuesday.

“Hate will not be tolerated, and your voice matters in helping us respond.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hate Crime Unit at 905-546-5511, or Crime Stoppers anonymously.