Police in Vancouver say a Ford Mustang left tire marks on a new rainbow-colored crosswalk recently installed after LGBT Pride month.
Police are calling it a hate crime
Mustang driver has been identified
A Ford Mustang driver in Vancouver is being accused of leaving tire marks on a Pride crosswalk painted to show the police’s commitment to “inclusion, diversity, and respect”.
“This is very upsetting,” Const. Kevin Goodmurphy said in a press release.
“For whatever reason, this person has chosen to leave a gesture of hate on a crosswalk that stands for the exact opposite.”
The act has been described as a hate crime by police, but some are saying it may be an overreaction.
Investigators would like to speak with the driver responsible for defacing a recently installed Pride crosswalk at 16th St. and Esquimalt Ave. If you have information, please call 604-925-7300. https://t.co/ywkNR4DMAv pic.twitter.com/ViW0ZxcxYN
— West Vancouver PD (@WestVanPolice) July 8, 2020
The police department says that it heard sustained tire squealing on July 7th and found the tire marks when they went to investigate.
A camera located nearby caught the Mustang leaving the station and although you can see the car struggle over the crosswalk, it’s not clear that the driver was intentionally leaving marks.
On the one hand you can tell the driver stops over the crosswalk and then accelerate rapidly, but on the other hand this may just be the driver checking if the coast is clear, and then flooring the car a bit too aggressively.
A week after it was installed, the Pride crosswalk outside @WestVanPolice's HQ at 16th/Esquimalt Ave. was damaged by the car seen below. No one has been arrested. The crosswalk hasn't been repaired yet. If you recognize the car below, tell police. pic.twitter.com/6NRnWoBpHa
— Sonia Aslam (@SoniaSAslam) July 8, 2020
Police in Vancouver say they have identified a suspect, but did not release further details.
LOL……must be great to live in a place that has so little crime that this has become a bid deal.