Hamilton police make arrests in March vandalism spree
Suspects believed to be connected with anarchist group The Tower
Hamilton police have arrested three and issued warrants for three others in connection with a masked mob that vandalized the city’s Locke St. neighbourhood in March.
Police announced the charges at a news conference at police headquarters Friday, where Chief Eric Girt called the update a “significant breakthrough.”
Deputy Chief Dan Kinsella said all six identified are believed to be connected to the anarchist collective The Tower, which organized a book fair the same weekend as the March 3 vandalism spree, which saw a masked mob of about 30 march down Locke St. throwing rocks at windows and setting off fireworks.
They carried a sign that read, “We are the ungovernable.”
Jack Duckworth, 23, from Hamilton, Tammy Kovich, 32, from Hamilton and Tyler Nadeau, 26, from Montreal are charged with unlawful assembly while masked and mischief over $5,000.
Kovich is also charged with conspiracy to commit mischief, conspiracy to commit unlawful assembly while masked, counsel unlawful assembly while masked and counsel mischief.
Nadeau is also charged with counsel mischief, three counts of mischief under $5,000 and an additional two counts of mischief over $5,000
All were arrested over the last two days and were expected in court Friday.
Kinsella urged the three who had not yet been arrested to turn themselves in.
Alexander Balch, 34, from Hamilton is wanted for unlawful assembly while masked and mischief over $5,000.
Matthew Lowell-Pelletier, 31, from Hamilton is wanted for unlawful assembly while masked and mischief over $5,000. He’s also wanted on a separate charges for mischief related to vandalism on Barton St.
David Prychitka, 34, from Hamilton is wanted for unlawful assembly while masked, mischief over $5,000 and counsel unlawful assembly while masked.
Kinsella wouldn’t say what role each party is alleged to have taken in the vandalism.
Police previously charged the supposed operator of The Tower, 31-year-old Cedar Hopperton, with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.
Kinsella also revealed police are looking at other incidents of vandalism and mischief across Hamilton.