Charges filed for man accused of urinating on LGBTQ+ Pride flag, then tried to apologize
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Formal charges have been filed against a man who was caught on a home surveillance camera allegedly urinating on an LGBTQ+ Pride flag.
According to the Columbus City Attorney’s Office, city prosecutors filed multiple misdemeanor charges against an individual who was caught on video surveillance urinating on a Pride flag and directing homophobic remarks toward residents at a home in Weiland Park, near the Ohio State University campus.
The incident happened just after 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 8 and was posted online three days later. In the video, a man can be seen walking up the porch of a home, exposing himself and urinating on the flag, saying, "F*** the gays, f*** the gays," while holding up a middle finger. The man then bangs twice on the house’s doors before he and another man seen at the bottom of the porch stairs run from the scene.
The second man was reportedly recording the incident on his cell phone. After the video was posted online, one of the victims contacted Columbus police, which reported that the incident was being investigated as a hate crime.
On Feb. 13, the two suspects returned to the home, knocked on the door and attempted to apologize to both victims. Detectives also received six additional anonymous tips identifying the suspects in the alleged incident.
Charges filed include ethnic intimidation, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, and disorderly conduct. Penalties for all misdemeanor charges filed Tuesday could include hundreds of dollars in fines, possible jail time or probation, among other penalties.