NEWS RELEASE
GUELPH POLICE SERVICE
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A Guelph male already facing charges for an anti-Asian tirade earlier this year was arrested again Tuesday for spitting at an Asian couple.
Approximately 10:45 a.m. the couple was walking in a secluded area of a south-end park when a male began following close behind them. The couple is familiar with the male as he has followed them in the past causing them to feel uncomfortable.
The couple changed their direction in an attempt to get away from the male, but he ran in front of them and turned around abruptly to confront them. The male was ranting and then spit a number of times toward the couple but did not strike them.
Guelph Police Service officers arrived minutes later and located the male alone in the park. He told police he is upset at Asian people because they brought the COVID-19 virus to Canada.
A 21-year-old Guelph male is charged with assault and criminal harassment. The male was already facing charges of criminal harassment and causing a disturbance following a March 28 incident in which he approached an Asian female walking her dog and began yelling racial slurs and blaming Asians for COVID-19.
He was held in custody and will appear in a Guelph bail court on Thursday.
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