The couple involved in the alleged racial incident inside a Steveston coffee shop has been charged with mischief.
According to Richmond RCMP, Astrid Maria Secreve and Michel Jean-Jacque Berthaume have both been charged following the incident at Rocanini on Moncton Street and No. 1 Road on March 29.
Police say the incident which led to this week’s charges involved alleged racial slurs, which the Richmond News reported earlier this year as being hurled at shop staff of Asian ethnicity.
“Our investigators conducted a thorough and extensive investigation and their efforts have resulted in charges being laid against two individuals,” said Insp. Michael Cohee, Richmond RCMP’s officer-in-charge of Operations Support.
“Hate has no place in our community. We are committed to investigating every incident to its fullest and will pursue charges where a potential offence has been committed.”
The News reported back in March how the incident was caught on the coffee shop’s CCTV, which showed the couple getting out of their seats and appearing to throw coffee in the direction of a staff member before leaving.
Another video, shot on someone’s phone outside the shop, appears to show one of the accused yelling racial slurs at staff as he got into his car.
If you have been the victim of a hate incident, or have witnessed one, seek help and call police.
For emergencies or in progress incidents dial 911. For non-emergency contact Richmond RCMP at 604-278-1212 or the non-emergency line of the police of jurisdiction.
Should you wish to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit them online at www.solvecrime.ca.
