PHOTO COURTESY DINA JUBRAK Messages such as 'white pride" and "LGBTQ Sucks" were spray painted in the downtown walking tunnel sometime overnight between June 18 and 19, 2018. Police are investigating and are asking the public for assistance.
Medicine Hat police are investigating after vandals damaged art work in the walking tunnel connecting North and South Railway Streets downtown.
Police received a report about the vandalism on June 19 and believe it occurred overnight between June 18 and 19. Police say the vandalism includes graffiti and hateful phrases such as “white pride,” “we win” and “LGBTQ Sucks.”
“From my experience and what I do know about this graffiti, this is a hateful, foolish, despicable, criminal act by probably one or two people. I don’t think it is any sort of organized group or anything like that,” said MHPS Insp. Joe West. “The bottom line is, whatever the messaging it’s a foolish despicable criminal act.”
Police have no suspects at this time.
The incident comes just weeks after Street Art Works gave the tunnel a near-complete makeover one weekend this spring. Artists have already begun repairing the damage and painting new pieces.
A GoFundMe page has been created, which has a stated goal of $750. The funds raised will be used to repair the damage and there is also interest in installing mirrors and cameras in the tunnel
Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to call the MHPS at 403-529-8481 or provide a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Note: This story has been updated to correct the details of the GoFundMe account.
