Police make arrest in hate-motivated assaults

Toronto police have made an arrest after a string of hate-motivated assaults over five months across the city.

The incidents started June 4 at about 8:30 p.m. on the southbound platform at York Mills subway station. A passenger confronted a man for sitting too close to her. He responded by spitting at her and punching her, police said.

Police said the other incidents took place on June 7 on a bus in the Markham Road and Eglinton Avenue East area when racial slurs were yelled at a passenger.

Christopher Otoo, 27, of Toronto, was arrested Oct. 17 and charged with two counts of assault with a weapon.

He is scheduled to appear in court Thursday.