Father and Son Arrested in Bowmanville and Orono Hate-Motivated Incidents, Police Say
A father and son from Clarington have been arrested in connection with two separate hate-motivated incidents following police investigations and search warrants executed at a residence in Orono, according to the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS).
The arrests resulted from two unrelated occurrences earlier this year, each described as hate-motivated by police. On January 30, 2025, a male was recorded on CCTV distributing antisemitic pamphlets inside the Canadian Tire store at 2000 Green Road, Bowmanville. Employees discovered and turned the pamphlets over to police.
On May 24, 2025, police responded to reports of vandalism at a mosque at 111 Church Street North in Orono. Officers received information that multiple vehicles and the mosque's front door had been damaged during the incident.
According to DRPS, officers from the East Division Criminal Investigation Branch and the DRPS Hate Crime Unit executed two Criminal Code search warrants at a residence in Orono on June 9, 2025. Two males, a 34-year-old and a 14-year-old, both from Clarington, were taken into custody without incident. Police say several items were seized during the search.
Police charged the 34-year-old with Mischief to Property and the 14-year-old with Mischief Relating to Religious Property. Both individuals were released on an Undertaking. DRPS noted that these allegations have yet to be proven in court.
DRPS explained in its statement that 'hate crime' is not a separate charge in the Criminal Code of Canada. However, hate can be considered an aggravating factor during sentencing if proven in court. Police stated that they would consult with the Crown Attorney’s Office regarding the role of hate in these cases.
The police investigation is ongoing. DRPS asks anyone with information about these incidents to contact the East Division Criminal Investigations Branch. Police also noted that anonymous tips can be submitted through Durham Regional Crime Stoppers.