Charges laid in Pride crosswalk vandalism

By Kayla Butler

Posted August 20, 2019 2:55 pm.

Last Updated August 20, 2019 5:57 pm.

This article is more than 5 years old.

CALGARY – Calgary police have laid charges in relation to vandalism on the Pride crosswalks on Stephen Ave.

Shortly before 8:30 Sunday morning, the rainbow crosswalk downtown was defaced with a violent message targetting members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Monday police put a call out along with CCTV footage and photos of the suspect hoping for more information. Officers also encouraged the suspect to come forward.

READ MORE: ‘Hate speech is really what this is’: Violent message scrawled on Pride crosswalk

Kevin Gavel, 54, is charged with one count of mischief and is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 1.

Gavel is not allowed to be within 500 metres of the permanent Pride and Trans flag crosswalks downtown so as to prevent any repeat offenses.

Detectives are still looking for who is responsible for the other graffiti incident from last week.

Last Wednesday “lust” and “lost” were spray-painted across the Pride and Trans flags. Police do not think that Gavel is responsible in this case or that the suspects knew each other.

READ MORE: ‘Smile for the camera’: CPS looking for Pride, Trans crosswalk vandals in video

Footage from security cameras along Stephen Ave shows the suspect leaving the scene and interacting with a driver who was trying to turn onto Stephen Ave from Centre Street.

Investigators are still looking for anyone in the area around the time of the vandalism who may have seen something suspicious or might recognize the man in the photos to come forward.

If you have information you’d like to share with police, you can contact them by calling the non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or do so anonymously through Crime Stoppers.

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