A 23-year old Pictou County man faces a number of charges after leading police on chase through downtown New Glasgow on an all-terrain vehicle early Friday morning.
Police on patrol in the town just after midnight spotted a four-wheel ATV driving dangerously in the downtown.
When they investigated closer, they saw that a rainbow crosswalk near New Glasgow Square was badly damaged by tire marks.
The rainbow crosswalk, which depicts the colours symbolizing the LGBT community, was opened in early September after a suggestion from the town’s Race Relations and Anti-Discrimination Committee.
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“A lot of people will be devastated by this,” said New Glasgow Police Const. Ken MacDonald. “It was opened with a lot of fanfare and it was a symbol of pride in the community.”
Police attempted to stop the driver of the ATV who instead sped off, sometimes driving dangerously through downtown streets.
At one point he was driving at high speed down one-way streets
He was finally cornered on dead-end Forbes Avenue and arrested.
The man faces charges of impaired operation of a motor vehicle, flight from police, mischief and property damage. He’s scheduled to appear in Pictou provincial court on Jan. 16.
MacDonald said it’s not certain yet if the incident can be considered a hate crime, but added that the investigation is continuing.
He also said the crosswalk will likely have to be repainted.
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