Kelowna man arrested in Ontario for hate crimes in B.C.

A Kelowna man accused of hate crimes was arrested in Ontario Wednesday.

Gregory Joseph Bayliss, 41, was arrested in Kenora, Ont. after a hate crime investigation that started in Kelowna on June, 11, 2024, according to a press release from police.

Bayliss has been charged with public incitement of hatred, advocating or promoting genocide, promoting hatred and uttering threats. The charges were laid on Jan. 21, and Bayliss was caught by Ontario Provincial Police on Jan. 22.

“Provided the seriousness of these offences and their inevitable public exposure, it is imperative that we maintain the integrity of this investigation and safe keep any upcoming judicial proceedings,” Kelowna RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Michael Gauthier said in the release.

“With that in mind, we will not be disclosing any further details of these offences at this time. We thank our policing partners in Ontario for their assistance with this arrest.”

Bayliss has a number of prior charges including criminal harassment in 2010, a domestic violence charge of uttering threats in 2015. He has also breached recognizance, or violated the terms of his release, in the past.

Bayliss will be transported to Kelowna to appear in court at a future date.