Man arrested after hate-motivated incident in Aurora, another being sought in separate incident
Accused was seen spraying black paint on Pride rainbow crosswalk
York Regional Police have arrested a 57-year-old man and are looking for the driver of a pick-up truck, both of whom are accused of vandalizing a Pride crosswalk in the Town of Aurora.
Police said that around 3:20 this morning, an officer spotted a man spraying black paint on the Pride rainbow crosswalk at Yonge and Wellington in Aurora.
The 57-year-old man was arrested and charged with mischief.
Meanwhile, police said just before midnight on Thursday, a pick up truck drove over the crosswalk that was unveiled earlier that day as a show of support for the LGBTQ community.
The driver then returned a short time later and left some more skid marks.
New image of the suspect pick-up truck wanted after leaving black skid marks on the Pride rainbow crosswalk in Aurora. Truck was seen on 2 occasions intentionally doing burnouts on painted crosswalk. Call 866-876-5423 x7141 with any tips. More info here -> <a href="https://t.co/lasTQdk4aY">https://t.co/lasTQdk4aY</a> <a href="https://t.co/NRFzBunTWh">pic.twitter.com/NRFzBunTWh</a>
—@YRPInvestigators believe that the marks were done intentionally and this is being investigated as a hate-motivated incident.
Police said the suspect was driving a light-coloured pick-up truck and they are asking any witnesses, anyone with information or anyone with dashcam or video surveillance footage in that area, to come forward.
At 3:20am an officer spotted a man spraying black paint on the Pride rainbow crosswalk at Yonge/Wellington in Aurora. 57yr-old Roy ZINN was arrested and has been charged with Mischief. More info here --> <a href="https://t.co/lasTQdk4aY">https://t.co/lasTQdk4aY</a><a href="https://twitter.com/Town_of_Aurora?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Town_of_Aurora</a>
—@YRPMeanwhile, Pflag York Region, an LGBTQ advocacy group, said these acts only continue to showcase to Aurora and surrounding communities that there are those who wish to obscure lived-experiences different that their own.
"It's a type of hate all marginalized groups like Black, Indigenous, Women, Muslim, Jewish and other communities continue to face that is both cultural in our behaviours and systemic in our institutions," president Tristan Coolman said in a news release.
"Those who continue to act on their hate fail to realize our resolve is much stronger."