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The suspect in a hit-and-run collision in north Edmonton that investigators believe may have been motivated by hate turned herself into police last week.
In a news release issued Thursday, police said Kelly Smith, 37, has been charged with assault with a weapon and criminal hit and run.
The incident reportedly took place back on May 27 in a parking lot in the area of 82nd Street and 144th Avenue.
Police said officers were called to the scene at about 6:45 p.m. and were told that a woman confronted another woman over a parking dispute. They allege that the suspect made racist and xenophobic comments towards the victim, who was wearing a hijab.
When the victim was outside her vehicle, police allege the other woman drove towards her and hit her with her front bumper before leaving the scene without exchanging information, rendering aid to the victim or reporting the incident to authorities.
Police said they believe the victim was targeted based on her “religious and/or cultural identity.”
Sgt. Amanda Ross with the Edmonton Police Service’s hate crimes unit said the incident has caused fear and concern within the city’s Muslim community.
“Police want to assure the community that this report was thoroughly investigated as a hate-motivated crime,” she said.
Smith has been released on a promise to appear and is scheduled to appear in court in early August.