Hamilton police seek suspect in assault at September’s tiny homes project meeting

Hamilton police are looking for a man wanted in connection with an assault that took place during a public meeting in September on the now-cancelled plan to build 25 tiny insulated cabins to house homeless people at Strachan Linear Park.

The Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelters (HATS) and City of Hamilton held the meeting on Sept. 11 at the Bennetto Community Centre to provide nearby residents with the opportunity to voice their concerns about the two-year pilot project that was a part of the city’s response to the homelessness crisis.

However, the city cancelled the meeting due to “serious health and safety concerns.”

Grace Mater, general manager for the City of Hamilton, had said a staff member at the public consultation was assaulted as they were “grabbed, pulled, pushed and yelled at.”

Police say their ongoing investigation has led to a suspect being identified.

Officers are now searching for a man between the ages of 40 and 50 with a buzz cut. He was last seen clean shaven and wearing a black Nashville music city USA Harley Davidson T-shirt, shorts and black glasses.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Det. Const. Tom Kersgens at 905-546-3816.

In early October, the HATS’ board of directors unanimously voted not to move forward with the project due to costs that were “too significant.”

READ MORE: Tiny shelters in Hamilton park cancelled due to costs that are ‘too significant’