Niagara Regional Police have identified and charged a second suspect in a downtown St. Catharines assault that investigators say may have been hate-motivated.
Detectives with the 1 District (St. Catharines/Thorold) Criminal Investigations Bureau named 36-year-old William Rider of St. Catharines as the second person involved in the September 26, 2026 incident, according to a Niagara Regional Police Service update. Rider has been charged and remains in custody pending a bail hearing.
Police say Rider is scheduled to appear at the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse at 59 Church Street in St. Catharines. A publication date for that hearing, as listed by police, was Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
The original incident began just before 9 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, when uniformed officers from the NRPS 1 District were called to the area of St. Paul Street and Bond Street after a report of an assault.
What police say happened
When officers arrived, they found a 25-year-old man from Welland suffering from serious injuries. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
The investigation determined that a verbal interaction between the victim and the accused escalated into a physical altercation, police said.
A woman was arrested at the scene that night. Police identified her as 41-year-old Samantha Jacobs of St. Catharines. Jacobs was charged with assault causing bodily harm and was held for a bail hearing on Sunday, September 27, at the Robert S. K. Welch Courthouse.
The police update naming Rider does not specify the criminal offence he is charged with.
Hate-motivation investigation
Detectives with the 1 District Criminal Investigations Bureau are investigating whether the incident may have been hate-motivated, police said. If evidence establishes that hate was a motivating factor, it may be considered by the court as an aggravating factor during sentencing, according to the Niagara Regional Police Service.
The force's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Unit has been made aware of the incident and will be engaged with the victim, police said.
How to help
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Niagara Regional Police Service's 1 District at 905-688-4111, option 3, extension 1024233.
Tips can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers of Niagara, online or by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to people who provide information that leads to an arrest.
