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GSPS arrest boy, 13, over lyrics shared to social media

‘Greater Sudbury Police Service takes reports of hate-motivated crime and hate-bias incidents very seriously’
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Greater Sudbury Police have arrested and charged a 13-year-old boy after they say he posted hate-motivated song lyrics to social media.

GSPS said they received a complaint on Nov. 11 in relation to a hate-motivated incident involving a young person. Information provided was that the young person had written lyrics to a song, recorded the lyrics, then posted the song to social media. 

The lyrics contained hateful and threatening comments directed at another young person based on their sexual orientation, as well as references to damaging school property.

Through the investigation, officers located multiple songs written by the young person that contained hateful lyrics confirming that the incident was motivated by hate or bias. 

On Nov. 12, officers arrested and charged the boy with utter threats to cause death or bodily harm and utter threats to burn, destroy or damage real or personal property.

The youth was released on an undertaking with a court date of Jan. 20, 2022, to answer to the charges.

“We know that hate crimes and hate-bias incidents are extremely underreported, and we are working hard to change that,” said Greater Sudbury Police in a news release. “The Greater Sudbury Police Service takes reports of hate-motivated crime and hate-bias incidents very seriously, and we recognize the impact on and pain felt by community members when there is evidence of hatred. We want to assure you that we are committed to investigating these situations thoroughly.”