Sudbury police release images of man who vandalized downtown Pride crosswalk

Sudbury police release photo of hate crime suspect Police in Sudbury have released photos of the man they say is responsible for vandalizing the progressive Pride mural in city’s downtown.

Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) has released images of the person responsible for the vandalism of the progressive Pride flag crosswalk on Minto Street in the city’s downtown core last weekend.

Investigators are requesting the public’s assistance to identify them.

At 6 a.m. on Aug. 3, the male suspect, in the photos captured on video surveillance that the police provided, threw a can of white paint on the Pride crosswalk that was painted as part of the launch of Sudbury’s Pride Week in July.

GSPS in collaboration with city staff obtained and reviewed security video surveillance footage of the incident.

The incident has been assigned to the police service’s hate crime investigators in its criminal investigation division and the incident is being investigated as a hate-motivated crime.

"Hate or bias-motivated crimes and incidents have an impact extending far beyond the physical and emotional trauma to the individual(s) involved," said police officials in a news release late Friday.

"Communities are also affected. These crimes often heighten the isolation and vulnerability of diverse communities and can cause undue stress for all members of the community.”

Police officials said that hate-motivated crimes and incidents are underreported and they are working hard to change that.

"We take reports of hate-motivated crimes and incidents very seriously and we recognize the impact and pain felt by community members when there is evidence of hatred,” said police.

“We want to assure the community that we are committed to investigating these situations thoroughly."

Anyone with information related to the incident or the identity of the individual shown in the photos is asked to contact Sudbury police at 705-675-9171 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.

With files from CTVNorthernOntario.ca journalist Ian Campbell