NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. — Police in New Westminster, B.C., are investigating a 91-year-old man after white paint was dumped on a rainbow Pride crosswalk in the city's downtown core.
Witnesses reported the vandalism Monday evening and officers located a suspect not far away.
They say crews were able to wash away the paint and there is no permanent damage, but the elderly man was taken to hospital for evaluation and a mischief investigation is underway.
The crosswalk, which celebrates the diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer community, had been unveiled just hours earlier as part of Pride Week festivities in New Westminster.
The first rainbow Pride crosswalk was painted in Vancouver's West End in 2013 and Victoria installed three permanent rainbow crosswalks earlier this year, while Prince Rupert has approved the concept and an online crowdsourcing campaign has been launched to help fund it.
