‘A Gesture of Hate’: Police Investigate After Driver ‘Defaces’ LGBTQ Pride Crossing With A Tire Mark

NOT satire: West Vancouver Police on Tuesday appealed for public assistance to help identify a driver accused of ‘defacing’ a recently installed LGBTQ Pride crossing with a tire mark.

Law enforcement officials announced on Tuesday they will be “investigating a mischief to property, after someone defaced the department’s new Pride crosswalk.”

According to the statement: “On July 7, 2020 at 4:04pm staff inside the police station heard a loud and sustained tire squealing outside. When officers took a closer look, they discovered that someone had just left tire marks across a portion of the crosswalk, at the intersection of 16th St and Esquimalt Ave.”

The Police Department took to social media asking for public assistance in identifying the driver who was captured on CCTV.

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

“This is very upsetting,” Cst. Kevin Goodmurphy said. “For whatever reason, this person has chosen to leave a gesture of hate on a crosswalk that stands for the exact opposite.

“We have nothing but support from community members following the installation of the crosswalk, and we know that those people represent the majority,” Goodmurphy added.

On Friday police said they have identified the driver and thanked members of the public for coming forward with information.