Perth OPP investigating as Pride and Canadian flags stolen in North Perth

earthpressnews
Perth OPP investigating as Pride and Canadian flags stolen in

Perth County OPP officers are investigating after a Pride flag and a Canadian flag were stolen from a flagpole in Listowel last week.

Police received a report about the stolen flags, as well as damage to the flagpole and surrounding flower beds, on the morning of June 21. Police said an unknown suspect stole the flags and caused the damage at around 2:40 am earlier that morning.

The Perth County OPP is seeking the public’s help with its investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

It’s at least third time this month that Southwestern Ontario police have reported the theft of Pride flags.

Aylmer police reported that a rainbow flag, symbolic of LGBTQ inclusion, disappeared from the front porch of a Talbot Street home on June 11.

Aylmer has been the epicenter for ultra-conservative viewpoints, particularly during the pandemic when the local Church of God, led by controversial Pastor Henry Hildebrandt, was on the frontline of anti-government protests against masking and vaccines.

Oxford provincial police were also investigating thefts in Norwich Township between June 9 and 13 at three locations on Stover Street, Maple Dell Road and Norwich Road. They said they were reviewing surveillance footage in the area where the flags disappeared.

Norwich has previously been a flashpoint in Pride controversies. A year ago, Pride banners and flags were stolen or vandalized in the community. Two people were charged, but the case was later dropped. One of the people charged was allowed to speak at a township council meeting and compared the Pride flag to Nazi Germany. Recently, there was more controversy when Norwich politicians banned flying the Pride flag and all other non-governmental flags on civic property. One councilor resigned over the actions.

Several rural Southwestern Ontario municipalities have instituted similar bans on their government properties.

pso1