Holy Roller vandalized again at Victoria Park
Less than two weeks after the Holy Roller was restored and put back in its place at Victoria Park, it was vandalized.
“We expected it but we didn't know exactly when it was going to happen,” says Ret. Sgt. Michael Procure of the 1st Hussars, who was part of the restoration team for the famous D-Day tank.
It happened during the day Saturday with members of the 1st Hussars in the park for a ceremony.
“The suspect took an angle grinder and just made some marks in the back deck,” says Procure.
The Holy Roller tank in Victoria Park in London, Ont was vandalized with an angle grinder on Saturday, June 11, 2022 (Brent Lale/CTV News London)“It was just behind the engine cover. You really can't see if your ground level but because we were we had people in the park yesterday for a ceremony, that's when they saw the person that was doing it.”
He says a police officer was patrolling the park and was notified. Procure says the London Police Service took the man into custody.
“We have the money and the funds available and obviously the crew to do it. It's just a matter of getting the time to do it,” says Procure.
The tank returned to the park May 31, 2022 after a restoration team at Fanshawe College helped bring it back to its original glory.
The Holy Roller tank in Victoria Park in London, Ont was vandalized with an angle grinder on Saturday, June 11, 2022 (Brent Lale/CTV News London)The damage comes just days after the city removed surveillance. There are plans in place for additional lighting, and potentially security cameras.
“The city provided security for the time it went back in on the 31st of May, until the D Day ceremonies last weekend,” says Procure.
“We had 24-hour security at that time and then after that, that we didn't have additional security, and that's when we figured it was going to happen.”
The restoration team will sand and paint the damage Tuesday afternoon.
Drone image of vandalism done to the Holy Roller in Victoria Park in London, Ont. (Courtesy Joe O’Neil)Drone image of vandalism done to the Holy Roller in Victoria Park in London, Ont. (Courtesy Joe O’Neil)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
W5 Investigates A 'ticking time bomb': Inside Syria's toughest prison holding accused high-ranking ISIS members
In the last of a three-part investigation, W5's Avery Haines was given rare access to a Syrian prison, where thousands of accused high-ranking ISIS members are being held.
'Mayday!': New details emerge after Boeing plane makes emergency landing at Mirabel airport
New details suggest that there were communication issues between the pilots of a charter flight and the control tower at Montreal's Mirabel airport when a Boeing 737 made an emergency landing on Wednesday.
BREAKING Supreme Court affirms constitutionality of B.C. law on opioid health costs recovery
Canada's top court has affirmed the constitutionality of a law that would allow British Columbia to pursue a class-action lawsuit against opioid providers on behalf of other provinces, the territories and the federal government.
Cucumbers sold in Ontario, other provinces recalled over possible salmonella contamination
A U.S. company is recalling cucumbers sold in Ontario and other Canadian provinces due to possible salmonella contamination.
Irregular sleep patterns may raise risk of heart attack and stroke, study suggests
Sleeping and waking up at different times is associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, even for people who get the recommended amount of sleep, according to new research.
Real GDP per capita declines for 6th consecutive quarter, household savings rise
Statistics Canada says the economy grew at an annualized pace of one per cent during the third quarter, in line with economists' expectations.
Nick Cannon says he's seeking help for narcissistic personality disorder
Nick Cannon has spoken out about his recent diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder, saying 'I need help.'
California man who went missing for 25 years found after sister sees his picture in the news
It’s a Thanksgiving miracle for one California family after a man who went missing in 1999 was found 25 years later when his sister saw a photo of him in an online article, authorities said.
As Australia bans social media for children, Quebec is paying close attention
As Australia moves to ban social media for children under 16, Quebec is debating whether to follow suit.