Calgary man charged with 2 of 11 church vandalisms this summer
Police say charges have been laid against a Calgary man in connection with acts of vandalism of two local churches this summer.
Investigators add the suspect is one of a number of people believed to be involved in a rash of incidents they surmise is connected to the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves outside Canada’s former residential schools.
Orange and red paint was splashed on 11 different churches on the night of June 30.
According to police,at one location a window was smashed so paint could be thrown inside.
"Handprints, the number '215' and other markings suggest the vandalism was in response to the graves recently found at former residential schools," police said in a July news release.
Police later released CCTV photos of the suspects.
According to the latest developments, a break in the case came in August, when a detective attending an unrelated incident noticed a man who looked like one of the suspects in the photos.
"The identification of the suspect led to further evidence coming to light and charges have now been laid in connection with two of the church vandalisms," police said.
Sebastian Rodriguez-Huerta is charged with two counts of mischief to a property primarily used for religious worship.
Sacred Heart Church"It is alleged that these incidents also meet the threshold of being hate-motivated crime," police said.
"Hate-motivated crimes are recognizable crimes, like assault, theft, vandalism or any other crime, where the offender was motivated by bias, prejudice or hate that is based on one of nine personal characteristics of the victim.
"Any evidence of a hate motivation is considered by the courts after a person is found guilty of the connected crime. If the judge decides during sentencing that hate was a motivation for the offence, it is an aggravating factor that can add to the convicted person’s sentence."
Police are continuing to investigate the church vandalisms as well as a case of arson involving a church at around that same time.
Anyone with information on the church vandalisms or the church arson is asked to call the Calgary Police Service's non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or by contacting Crime Stoppers.
"Our service continues to be aware of the ongoing trauma and tensions in the community regarding the tragic and heartbreaking stories about the residential school system that have been shared this year," police said.
"We want to assure the community that we are fully committed to working towards peaceful reconciliation and a recognition of our past, while still performing our duties of upholding the law and protecting public safety."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.