Crimes motivated by hate: Edmonton police

The hate crimes unit of Edmonton Police has laid numerous charges against four men who allegedly assaulted two men and a woman and made hateful comments against others in a rampage on Whyte Avenue last month.

Police say the men who range from 18 to 32 years in age andare from Edmonton also distributed flyers on Whyte Avenue and at the Churchill LRT station about a white supremacist rally scheduled to take place in Calgary this month.

"It's a little concerning that they are from an identified white supremacist group ... if you have the posters, they're actually called 'The Blood and Honour.' That's an identified group," said Supt. Ken MacKay.

The offences are alleged to have occurred on the evening of Feb. 12 and into the early hours of Feb. 13. After the men allegedly distributed the flyers, they took an LRT train to the University of Alberta, and then walked to Whyte Avenue.

Police say they ended up in a bar at 103rd Street and Whyte Avenue, where they made hateful comments about people who were not white or "appeared to be of an alternate sexual orientation."

The men then moved on to another bar at 81st Avenue and Gateway Boulevard where they allegedly made racial remarks towards a 25-year-old man and punched him several times.

Victims 'very afraid'

A 20-year-old woman was assaulted and punched in the face by the group at yet another Whyte Avenue bar, police said. The group is also accused ofassaulting a 23-year-old man who tried to intervene.

MacKay said the attacks have had a significant impact on the victims.

"We know that they're not going back onto Whyte Avenue. They're very afraid," he said.

James Andrew Brooks, 25, is charged with two counts of criminal harassment, two counts of assault, mischief, causing disturbance, assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon.

David Roger Goodman, 18, is charged with two counts of criminal harassment, two counts of assault, mischief, causing a disturbance, and uttering threats.

Jason Anthony Anderson, 32, is charged with two counts of criminal harassment, two counts of assault, mischief, causing a disturbance, and assault.

Keith Virgil Decu, 32, is charged with criminal harassment, mischief, causing a disturbance and assault.

They were all released on bail under conditions. They will return to court on March 17.