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A 56-year-old London, Ontario, construction worker has been charged with one offence motivated by hatred after police say a swastika-like symbol was allegedly created in gravel at a downtown parking lot. London Police Service arrested Gordon Botaitis on October 23, 2026, one day after the alleged incident. He was released and is expected to appear in London court on January 18, 2027. The charge has not been tested in court, and Botaitis is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
What happened in the London parking-lot swastika case?
According to a London Police Service release dated October 24, police were notified on October 22 about an incident in the rear parking lot of a property in the 0–100 block of St. George Street in downtown London. A man who was completing construction work allegedly used equipment believed to be a pressure washer to create a symbol resembling a swastika in the gravel.
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Residents nearby recorded video and took photographs, then provided that material to police. The property owner later attended the site and removed the symbol.
Who is Gordon Botaitis and what is he charged with?
Police identified the accused as Gordon Botaitis, 56, of London. The London Police Service says he faces one count of an offence motivated by hatred. The investigation was transferred to the service’s Hate Crime Unit after his arrest, and that unit determined the incident was motivated by hatred.
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An offence motivated by hatred is a charge, not a finding of guilt. No plea, trial result, conviction or sentence has been reported in the available accounts. The presumption of innocence continues throughout the court process.
When is the court appearance?
Botaitis was released from custody after his arrest and is expected to appear in London court on January 18, 2027. The available police and media reports do not state the specific courtroom, release conditions or whether a future appearance will change.
Was a pressure washer or gasoline used?
The police account says the equipment was “believed to be a pressure washer,” so that description remains qualified rather than confirmed. A separate National Post report, carried by Unpublished, quoted local Jewish groups who said the symbol was drawn in gasoline. That gasoline account is secondary reporting and should not be treated as an established fact or combined with the police description.
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JNS also reported the alleged pressure-washer account and the January 18 court date. Neither the police release nor the cited reports describe a court finding that resolves which material or equipment was used.
Were Jewish students living nearby?
The National Post report said the parking lot primarily served Jewish off-campus housing and identified a father of two Jewish Western University students, Darren Slavens, as a community voice. Those details come from secondary reporting, not a formal police finding in the release.
The same report said rabbis from Chabad at Western arrived within minutes to support students and contact police. It also reported that the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) characterized the drawing as an attack on inclusive democratic values. These are attributed community responses, rather than independent findings about the incident.
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Slavens was quoted as saying: “To those who believe they can frighten Jewish students into hiding their identity, I’ve got news for you. You’re dealing with the wrong generation.”
What did London police say?
The London Police Service said, “Hate has no place in our city,” and added that “Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected in our city.” The statements accompanied the announcement of the arrest and charge.
Confirmed timeline
| Date | What is reported |
|---|---|
| October 22, 2026 | Police were notified of the alleged symbol in a rear parking lot in the 0–100 block of St. George Street. Nearby residents supplied video and photographs. |
| October 23, 2026 | Police identified and arrested Botaitis. The investigation moved to the Hate Crime Unit. |
| October 24, 2026 | London Police Service released the public account of the arrest and charge. |
| January 18, 2027 | Botaitis is expected to appear in London court. |
What is still unknown?
- No court has determined whether Botaitis committed the alleged act.
- The available reports do not identify a plea, trial date, sentence or final disposition.
- Police have qualified the equipment as believed to be a pressure washer; the separate gasoline claim remains attributed to community sources.
- No incident-specific statistical trend or study has been reported with this case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly was the symbol reported?
Police placed the incident in the rear parking lot of a property in the 0–100 block of St. George Street in downtown London, Ontario. The release does not identify the property by name.
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How did police obtain evidence?
Nearby residents captured video and photographs and provided them to investigators. Police said the property owner subsequently removed the symbol from the gravel.
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Does a hate-motivated charge prove antisemitic intent?
No. The charge records the police allegation and classification; intent and the underlying facts must be tested through the criminal court process.
Can the public see the accused’s release conditions?
The reports reviewed do not list release conditions. Those details may be available through court records or at a later appearance, subject to publication restrictions.
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