After his 91-year-old father's 2003 Buick Rendezvous was vandalized on Oct. 20, Michel Marleau did a little investigating on his own.
There were four cars in his father's driveway the night it was vandalized, and his was the only one targeted.
A suspect, or suspects, cut off the valve of the vehicle's front right tire, smashed the window, and poured thick black paint over the hood and top edges of the window on the passenger side.
An estimate said it would cost around $7,200 to repair the damage — which is more than the SUV was worth.
Marleau, who asked that Sudbury.com not name his father, could not understand why anyone would want to damage his elderly father's property when he had spent a lifetime volunteering and helping others in the community.
“When my dad got injured a while back, there were people lined up to come visit him,” Marleau said.
And when police questioned his father about the vandalism, he could not recall anyone who would have a motive to vandalize his vehicle.
But once the shock from the incident had worn off, Marleau sat down with his father and found out he had had a near crash while driving home from the New Sudbury Centre a day or two before his SUV was vandalized.
He was turning from Lasalle onto Falconbridge when a truck speeding towards him had to stop suddenly and skid until it was parallel with his Buick Rendezvous.
“He said that man was really upset,” Marleau said, recalling his father's story.
Marleau said the man driving the truck then gave his father the finger, and proceeded to follow him home.
He said his father got nervous and pulled into his driveway and went straight inside.
His father said the truck stayed there for a few minutes, possibly so the driver could take note of his father's address.
After hearing his father's story, Marleau spoke with some of his dad's neighbours, and one said she heard the engine of a large vehicle drive down the quiet street the night the vandalism would have occurred.
Another neighbour said he told police he saw a man holding a pipe or vehicle drive shaft that night, which was used to damage the Buick Rendezvous.
Marleau said he emailed the investigating officer his theory about the possible road rage motive for the vandalism, but had not heard back by Oct. 26.
In a press release, Greater Sudbury Police said anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has any information regarding the individuals who may be responsible for vandalizing the vehicle, are asked to contact police at 705-675-9171 ext. 2609.
Citizens can also provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
