Police investigating nooses at Toronto hospital building site make arrest

Police in Toronto arrested and charged a local man on 7 December after two nooses were found by black workers at a hospital project in East York on 10 June.

Jason Lahay, 34, of Toronto, was charged with mischief and three counts of criminal harassment, Toronto Police Service announced. 

He is scheduled to appear at College Park Courts on 13 January 2021.

The arrest is part of a "hate-motivated mischief and criminal harassment" investigation by Toronto police, which includes similar incidents at several other construction sites across the city (see further reading).

As part of the investigation a task force was created  by three divisions of the city police, along with members of its Hate Crime Unit.

Following the arrest, Councillor Paula Fletcher, who represents the East York area, tweeted: " Thank you to all the East Enders who never stopped pushing to get this result. Our community does not stand for hate or racism!" 

Image: ©GCR, illustration by Denis Carrier

Further reading:

• Police investigate after noose found at second Toronto building site
• Contractor pays out $1.25m to settle racial harassment case at Apple headquarters