Police charge male with numerous counts of mischief for vandalizing downtown businesses

MEDIA RELEASE

Lethbridge Police have charged a 41-year-old male with six counts of mischief for vandalizing commercial properties in the downtown core.

Over the past month, multiple businesses downtown have had exterior walls damaged by spray paint. In these cases the person responsible was accessing the buildings via the roof and spray painting large areas on the sides. In one of the incidents, police obtained high quality surveillance video of the suspect which assisted in identifying him. Following further investigation, police matched the spray painted vandalism with previous incidents in January and November 2023 where the same distinctive style of defacement was reported on additional commercial buildings. In total, six businesses were victimized with the cost of repairs ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 in each occurrence.

Josh Leonard Cyr, 41, of Lethbridge, is charged with six counts of mischief under $5,000. Cyr was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court April 17.

Police are reminding businesses or anyone who has had property vandalized, to promptly report the incidents so they can be investigated. Reports of mischief under $5,000 can be reported online at www.lethbridgepolice.ca/online-reporting. In cases where a business has video surveillance of a suspect, call 403-328-4444 to initiate a report.