Man, 30, ‘tears down Ten Commandments monument outside courthouse with chain tied to back of pickup truck’

A MAN has been charged after allegedly tearing down a Ten Commandments monument from a courthouse lawn using a pickup truck.

Police said Anthony Weimer, 30, wrapped a chain around the religious statue and attached it to his truck to rip the monument from the ground outside the Flathead County courthouse in Montana on Saturday.

Flathead County Sheriff's Office

30-year-old Anthony Weimer has been charged with felony criminal mischief[/caption]

Ian Cameron and the Flathead Area Secular Humanist Association

Weimer allegedly ripped the statue from the ground using a pickup truck[/caption]

He then dragged the monument down the road before detaching the chain and taking off, according to NBC Montana.

Police were later able to locate the truck, contact Weimer and take him into custody.

As of Monday morning, it’s unclear why Weimer targeted the religious statue. A motive has not been released.

The suspect is due to appear in court on Monday charged with felony criminal mischief, according to The New York Post.

The toppled monument was reportedly given to Flathead County by the Fraternal Order of the Eagles in 1950.

At that time, it was placed in front of the courthouse, according to The Daily Mail. The monument was later moved to the courthouse’s southwest corner during a renovation.

A video posted to local Facebook group Flathead 411 shows police moving the granite statue from the street after it was pulled from its place at the courthouse. It’s unclear at this time if the county plans to return it to its former home.