Teen from St. Catharines identified in Niagara rainbow crosswalk vandalism

A 15-year-old boy faces extrajudicial measures in connection to vandalism at a rainbow crosswalk in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The rainbow crosswalk, designed to support the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, at the Niagara Stone Road and Anderson Lane intersection. It is Niagara-on-the-Lake’s first rainbow crosswalk and it was installed on May 29.

The crosswalk was damaged a few days later, on June 1 at 4:18 p.m., Niagara Regional Police Services said.

On June 14, police released images of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) rider doing “burnouts” on the rainbow crosswalk.

And on June 19, a 15-year-old boy from St. Catharines was identified in connection with the incident, police said today (June 21).

The teen will not be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The act requires police officers to consider the use of extrajudicial measures before deciding to charge a young person.

As a result, the 15-year-old suspect has not been charged criminally but rather introduced to the extrajudicial measures program.

Extrajudicial measures are often used for a first-time, non-violent offender. Measures could include a warning or referral to a community program.