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A B.C. man who posted video of himself and another man spraying black paint on a rainbow crosswalk in Surrey, B.C., last month has been arrested, according to his social media.
Police in the Metro Vancouver city have not identified the man, who has since been released with conditions, but Amrit Birring says officers visited him on Saturday.
A Facebook post by Birring, the leader of the Freedom Party of B.C., says police did not put him in handcuffs and had him sign his release conditions on the spot.
The statement from the Surrey Police Service says the man has not yet been formally charged with an offence.
WATCH | Rainbow crosswalk vandalism condemned by advocates:
Rainbow crosswalk in Surrey vandalized
A rainbow crosswalk near Holland Park in Surrey was vandalized over the weekend. Surrey police say they have identified three “persons of interest.” As the CBC’s Amelia John reports, Surrey police say the hate crime unit has been notified of the incident.
However, Birring — who has previously confirmed he is the man in the video — says he’s been charged with mischief over $5,000.
Birring says his release conditions include orders that he not come within 500 metres of the rainbow crosswalk at Holland Park and to appear in court on July 28.
Police say the investigation is ongoing, and they expect to forward a report on the case to prosecutors in the next few days for assessment of potential charges.
The vandalism happened on May 30, and police said three men had been identified as suspects.
Birring had posted images and video of himself and another person spraying the crosswalk, while another held a protest sign.
The man has previously run unsuccessfully for mayor in Surrey and as a candidate in federal and provincial elections.