Lethbridge Pride crosswalk damaged by late-night vandal
Lethbridge police are looking for public assistance identifying the driver of a vehicle who they believe deliberately damaged the Pride crosswalk.
On Aug. 25 at around 12:49 a.m., a patrolling police officer saw a truck do a burn out over the Pride crosswalk, damaging the paint.
Police tried to stop the truck, but the vehicle fled at high speed, heading west on Highway 3 out of town.
The incident is being investigated as a hate-motivated crime.
“In this case, the criminal offence would be mischief under $5,000 being the vandalism to the painted crosswalk on the road there,” said Const. Joel Chenard with the Lethbridge Police Service.
Lethbridge Pride said vandalism doesn't discourage those in the LGBTQ+ community nor is it a surprise to them.
“It’s a let down to see the crosswalks defaced and what not, but it's not going to stop us from celebrating Pride 365 days a year,” Lane Sterr, president of Lethbridge Pride, said.
“I think whether we like it or not, it's always going to be an uphill battle.”
Police have canvassed local businesses for security camera video, but still don't have a good still photo and have not been able to identify the driver.
The suspect's truck is a 2012-14 grey Ford F-150 with black pin striping across the body and a loud aftermarket exhaust.
“I have seen it occur in the city before,” Chenard said. “They don't happen very often, but whenever we do receive a report, we do investigate and take it very seriously.”
Sterr said this isn't the first time the crosswalk has been targeted, but he doesn’t believe incidents like this reflect Lethbridge.
“We’re going to do what our community does best when something unfortunate happens – whether its vandalism or a protest – I know our community often unites and comes together because as we know, we are stronger together as we are divided,” Sterr said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Lethbridge police at 403-328-4444. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online or by downloading the P3 Tips app.
Crime Stoppers will pay up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

B.C. Amber Alert cancelled after roughly 90 minutes
An Amber Alert that was issued province-wide in British Columbia Saturday has been cancelled, roughly 90 minutes after it began.
BREAKING Shohei Ohtani agrees to record $700 million, 10-year contract with Dodgers
Shohei Ohtani has opted to stay in southern California, and the Toronto Blue Jays have missed out on landing a generational talent.
Minnesota grocery store clerk dies after customer impales him with a golf club, police say
A Minneapolis store clerk died after a customer beat him and impaled him with a golf club, police said. The 66-year-old clerk was attacked Friday at the Oak Grove Grocery, a small neighborhood store in a residential area near downtown Minneapolis. A 44-year-old suspect is jailed on suspicion of murder.
Mideast ministers in Ottawa to discuss Israel-Hamas war with Joly, Trudeau
A group of foreign ministers from the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye are in Ottawa today for a quietly planned meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly to discuss attempts to end the Israel-Hamas war.
A pregnant Texas woman asked a court for permission to get an abortion, despite a ban. What's next?
Kate Cox, a mother of two in Texas, became pregnant again in August but soon after learned devastating news: Her baby has a fatal condition and is likely to either be stillborn or die shortly after birth.
Thousands of revelers descend on NYC for annual Santa-themed bar crawl SantaCon
Here come Santa Clauses. Again. Throngs of people dressed as jolly Old St. Nick descended on New York City for the annual SantaCon charity pub crawl on Saturday.
Extremely rare white alligator is born at a Florida reptile park
An extremely rare white leucistic alligator has been born at a Florida reptile park. The 19.2-inch (49 cm) female slithered out of its shell and into the history books as one of a few known leucistic alligators, Gatorland Orlando said Thursday.
A Soviet-era statue of a Red Army commander taken down in Kyiv
City workers in Kyiv on Saturday dismantled an equestrian statue of a Red Army commander, the latest Soviet monument to be removed in the Ukrainian capital since Russia launched its full-scale invasion last year.
Ibrahim Ali found guilty of killing 13-year-old girl in B.C.
A jury has found Ibrahim Ali guilty of killing a 13-year-old girl whose body was found in a Burnaby, B.C., park in 2017.