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

'My door is always open': heritage minister insists feds working hard 'to bring Meta back to the table' on C-18
Canada's heritage minister insists the federal government is still working to get Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta back to the bargaining table to negotiate a deal to compensate Canadian news organizations as part of the regulatory process for the controversial Online News Act.
Strong earthquake that sparked a tsunami warning leaves 1 dead amid widespread panic in Philippines
A powerful earthquake that shook the southern Philippines killed at least one villager and injured several others as thousands scrambled out of their homes in panic and jammed roads to higher grounds after a tsunami warning was issued, officials said Sunday.
Bonnie Crombie wins Ontario Liberal leadership after 3 rounds of voting
Ontario Liberals have selected Bonnie Crombie, a three-term big city mayor and former MP who boasts that she gets under the skin of Premier Doug Ford, as their next leader to go head to head with the premier in the next provincial election.
Fatal stabbing of German tourist by suspected radical puts sharp focus on Paris Olympics
A bloodstain by a bridge over the Seine river was the only remaining sign on Sunday of a fatal knife attack 12 hours earlier on a German tourist, allegedly carried out by a young man under watch for suspected Islamic radicalization.
Teen girls are being victimized by deepfake nudes. One family is pushing for more protections
A mother and her 14-year-old daughter are advocating for better protections for victims after AI-generated nude images of the teen and other female classmates were circulated at a high school in New Jersey.
Israel widens evacuation orders as it shifts its offensive to southern Gaza amid heavy bombardments
Israel's military on Sunday ordered more areas in and around Gaza's second-largest city of Khan Younis to evacuate, as it shifted its offensive to the southern half of the territory where it says many Hamas leaders are hiding.
Naloxone: What to know about the opioid overdose-reversing drug, free across Canada
Health Canada has called the opioid crisis one of the most serious public health threats in recent history, and an addictions specialist says everyone can play a part in helping reduce the death toll. All it takes is access to naloxone, a life-saving medication that temporarily reverses an opioid overdose.
James Webb Telescope confirms existence of massive dusty galaxy from early universe
New observations from the James Webb Space Telescope have confirmed the existence of a massive, dusty, star-forming galaxy which was first spotted years ago by a ground telescope, but was completely invisible to the Hubble Space Telescope.
What was a hospital like in medieval times? Researchers analyzed 400 skeletons to find out
In medieval times, hospitals took care of the 'poor and infirm,' but how were inhabitants selected and what were their lives like? Researchers analyzed 400 skeletons to find out.