Charges approved in racially-charged viral video in Abbotsford
Posted October 31, 2016 9:14 am.
Last Updated October 31, 2016 1:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
ABBOTSFORD (NEWS 1130) – It’s been just over a week since a racially offensive confrontation on South Fraser Way in Abbotsford went viral online and there has been a break in the case.
In the video, which was posted to Twitter, a man is seen in a parking lot shouting racial slurs, expletives, and the words “white power” to a person behind the camera. The man also asks, “When did you come to Canada?” The man behind the camera is heard saying, “I was born in Canada.”
The man on camera grabs a cell phone from a parked pick-up truck and walks up to the videographer while continuing to yell.
Police in Abbotsford now say 47-year-old Karry Vernon Corbett of Hope has been charged with several offences including two counts of assault, one count of uttering threats and one count of causing a disturbance.
However, police have yet to find Corbett. They say a warrant has been issued for his arrest. “Shortly after that video was recorded, the witness made contact with the APD and then we began our investigation. We identified the suspect, then ultimately forwarded a report to Crown Counsel,” explains Constable Ian MacDonald.
He adds the charges of assault doesn’t necessarily mean there was a physical fight. “It isn’t restricted to just actually making physical contact with someone. It can be gesturing and posturing and having the ability to do that person harm and we believe Mr. Corbett did that first to the 72-year-old traffic attendant, then to the witness. We believe also that he uttered a threat to that traffic attendant prior to the camera being turned on. We’ve got corroboration of those facts from some witnesses.”
MacDonald says the province’s Hate Crimes Unit was called in, but no hate crimes charges have been approved. “That can be something that can be considered. The standard for a hate crimes per se is pretty difficult given the circumstances. To get an actual hate crimes charges, he would’ve had to either been inciting others to join in the hatred or that he’s publishing with an intent to spread hatred. For the information we have, this was essentially a belligerent and albeit, a racist sounding individual who was targeting his comments at one individual.”
Police are pleading with anyone who knows his whereabouts to call 911 or CrimeStoppers at 1.800.222.TIPS.
