Toronto Police undercover officers have slapped the cuffs on a suspect who was on the run for a month for allegedly spitting on Asian female riders on the TTC subway system.
POLICE SAY suspect was involved in hate crime targeting Asians.
The suspect was arrested on May 5 and is before the courts on criminal charges.
Police in an April 16 news release said the suspect was sought for a number of hate-motivated assaults on the subway system.
It is alleged that these incidents happened between April 9 and April 11 at three different subway stations, according to police.
They were called on April 9 around 8:47 a.m. to Christie Subway station where a man “assaulted a person by spitting on them on the eastbound platform.” He quickly fled.
Officers were called again on April 11 at 11:12 a.m. to the Lansdowne Station where a man “assaulted a woman by spitting on her.”
“The man yelled racial slurs at the woman and threatened a bystander who attempted to intervene,” officers from 11 Division said.
The suspect fled on an eastbound train.
About an hour later, police responded to Wellesley Station, where another woman was spat on by a man.
The suspect fled the scene. Police believe the same man is alleged to be responsible for the assaults.
Officers from 11 Division after consultation with the Service’s Specialized Hate Crime Unit determined the offences were suspected Hate Crimes.
Joseph O’Sullivan Martinez, 25, of Toronto, was charged with two counts of cause disturbance, four counts of assault, 10 counts of fail to comply probation and five counts of breach of recognizance.
He is before the courts.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1100, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, online on our Facebook Leave a Tip page, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes or Google Play.