UPDATE: Video of racist tirade at Calgary Superstore results in charges
Calgary police are addressing concerns and the hate crimes unit is investigationg three “hate-motivated offences” that happened in the city over the weekend.
A video shot by a Calgary man shows a confrontation between a Superstore employee and a customer that turned ugly in the community of Sunridge on Saturday.
In it, an angry customer is seen yelling racial insults at a young cashier. He can be heard saying “bomb-making motherf*****.”
WATCH: Cellphone video shot by Steve Lemmon shows a verbal and physical confrontation between a Superstore employee and customer at a northeast Calgary Superstore Saturday night.
The confrontation was not only a verbal attack; the customer eventually got physical with another customer in the line who tried to intervene.
While police said it’s too early to determine if charges might be laid, the incident is being investigated by the hate crimes coordinator and the diversity unit has been at the grocery store supporting staff.
“We need to know the full story,” Staff Sgt. Paul Wyatt said Monday.
“We do have that 30-second snippet on video… obviously some of the language is offensive and some of the gestures and what happens looks quite violent.
“But we don’t know what precipitated it or what happened before. So we need to get the full story.”
A man who witnessed the event told Global News the incident started when a customer became angry over an item being incorrectly scanned.
Wyatt said police are asking the man seen in the video to come forward to share his account with investigators.
WATCH: Staff Sgt. Paul Wyatt says they are trying to see the other half of the story regarding an irate customer at a Calgary grocery store.
As for the man who filmed the incident, and the customer that got involved, Wyatt commended them on their actions but took the opportunity to remind the public to be safe should they find themselves in a similar situation.
“Video is always good, but we need to mindful and careful that we don’t want the public to put themselves in any type of jeopardy in any way, shape or form,” he said.
“I don’t want individuals to intervene. I believe there was a gentleman at Superstore on Saturday that maybe did intervene that maybe became the focal point of this incident. I applaud his efforts and his bravery, but it’s not what we recommend.”
WATCH: Staff Sgt. Paul Wyatt discusses an incident at a Calgary grocery store where a customer was filmed during a hate-filled tirade.
Loblaw, the company that owns Superstore, called the incident “disgusting” in an emailed statement to Global News.
“The incident that took place on Saturday was disgusting and has no place in one of our stores,” the statement reads.
“We are cooperating with the police investigation and have offered colleagues additional resources and support where required.”
2 separate incidents of vandalism likely connected
Two other acts of vandalism were reported in the city’s southeast over the weekend — one involving vandalism to a charity haircut bus and the second during which a rock was thrown through the window of a home.
LISTEN: How should we react when we witness a racist incident?
Police believe those two attacks were targeted.
“They’re certainly hateful messages,” Wyatt said.
“Based on what we know, we believe the two incidents to be connected… there do seem to be similarities in those offences that we’re looking into, so we believe it’s the same person, yes.”
As for whether the incidents are being labelled as “hate crimes,” Wyatt said police would have to go to the Crown for that designation. However, investigators can build a case based on what they find.
WATCH: Staff Sgt. Paul Wyatt reads the definition of “hate crime” according to the Criminal Code of Canada and explains what to do if you think you are involved in a hate crime.
Police are also asking that anyone with video from the area where the two acts of vandalism happened, between the hours of 1 a.m. and 3 a.m., to come forward with that video to help the investigation.
Because the incidents are likely targeted, Wyatt said there’s no risk to others within the neighbourhood.
Wyatt said investigators spoke to the people believed to be targeted “at length,” giving them some safety planning. Officers don’t believe their safety is at risk.
WATCH: Staff Sgt. Paul Wyatt discusses two cases of possibly hate-motivated crimes committed in Deer Run over the weekend.
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