Eleven people charged in hate-motivated mischief at Toronto’s Indigo bookstore – Victim identified as CEO Heather Reisman

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Eleven individuals have now been arrested and charged in connection with a hateful act of vandalism targeting a prominent book store chain in the upscale neighborhood of Yorkville, Toronto. The Toronto Police Service confirmed that the incident took place on November 10th, prompting officers to respond to a mischief call at the intersection of Bay and Bloor streets at approximately 4:15 a.m.

According to the authorities, a group of suspects deliberately glued posters onto the doors and windows of the Indigo store before proceeding to pour red paint onto the windows and sidewalk. Disturbingly, the posters featured a picture of the company’s Jewish CEO, Heather Reisman, accompanied by the words “Funding Genocide.” This incident has since been classified as a hate-motivated offense, prompting an ongoing investigation by the police.

In an effort to hold those responsible accountable, law enforcement authorities previously arrested and charged 41-year-old Nisha Toomey, a Toronto resident, with mischief over $5,000 in connection with this incident. However, a recent news release from the Toronto Police Service revealed that an additional ten individuals, all residents of Toronto, now also face charges related to this case.

The individuals identified as Sharmeen Khan (45), MacDonald Scott (56), Mercedes Lee (44), Suzanne Narain (38), Lesley Wood (56), Sarom Rho (29), Ian Doty (43), Stuart Schussler (39), Karl Sebastian Gardner (33), and Clement Cheng (26) have each been charged with one count of mischief over $5,000 and one count of conspiracy to commit an indictable offense. These individuals are scheduled to appear in court in January, as confirmed by the Toronto Police Service.

The incident has garnered significant attention due to ongoing boycott campaigns against Indigo. For years, the bookstore chain has faced criticism over its founder’s HESEG Foundation for Lone Soldiers. This controversy has fueled animosity towards the company, leading to further tensions and negative sentiment towards the brand.

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw addressed the incident during a meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board, highlighting the alarming spike in hate crimes targeting both the Jewish and Palestinian communities. Chief Demkiw emphasized the need for robust measures to counteract these distressing trends, which have witnessed a significant surge since the Israel-Gaza war commenced on October 7th. The Chief described the increase in hate crimes as “staggering” and reaffirmed the commitment of law enforcement to address these issues comprehensively.

As the investigation into this hate-motivated act of vandalism continues, authorities remain dedicated to bringing all responsible parties to justice. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of combating hate crimes and fostering an inclusive and tolerant society..