A Florida teenager is facing a felony vandalism charge for damaging a sacred gay pride mural.
Dylan Brewer, 19, of Clearwater, is accused of deliberately damaging the LGBT mural with his vehicle after he was caught on camera doing a burnout with his vehicle earlier this month.
In a press release, local police accused Brewer of deliberately engaging in "destructive" acts:
The Delray Beach Police Department has made an arrest in the recent incident of intentional vandalism at the LGBTQ Pride intersection on NE 2nd Avenue. Dylan Brewer, 19, of Clearwater, FL, has been arrested and charged with felony criminal mischief over $1000 and reckless driving.
On the evening of Sunday, February 4th, 2024, witnesses reported that Brewer was observed intentionally performing multiple burnouts with his vehicle over the LGBTQ pride crosswalk at the intersection of NE 1st Street and NE 2nd Avenue. The reckless action caused significant damage to the streetscape painting, which serves as a symbol of unity and inclusivity for the LGBTQ community.
Police said they investigated the case after receiving numerous reports from concerned locals:
Law enforcement actively worked the case for more than a week. We received multiple reports from concerned citizens who witnessed Brewer engaging in these destructive acts. Several witnesses provided smartphone video of the crime. This morning, 2/12/24, Brewer turned himself in at the Delray Beach Police Department. Upon surrendering, Brewer did not provide a statement to law enforcement. He was taken to the Palm Beach County jail.
Brewer was only released from custody the next day after posting a $5,250 bond.
It is not the first time that this specific mural has been subject to vandalism.
A 19-year-old was arrested in Florida and is facing charges of felony criminal mischief and reckless driving after he drove over an LGBTQ pride mural painted on the street.
— Real Life Footage (@RealLifeFootage) February 13, 2024
Imagine if it was a MAGA mural.. he would receive a reward!
Leftist groups like BLM and Antifa… pic.twitter.com/UBTRKoTszE
In March 2022, 20-year-old Alexander Jerich pleaded guilty in Palm Beach County Circuit Court to felony criminal mischief and misdemeanor reckless driving.
Florida man in Trump birthday rally arrested for vandalizing #Pride street art in Delray Beach #BecauseFlorida: https://t.co/LnhubElZpZ pic.twitter.com/OpmdkmMR41
— Billy Corben (@BillyCorben) June 18, 2021
Local10 reported at the time:
Jerich joined a convoy of about 30 vehicles last June to celebrate Trump’s birthday in Delray Beach, officials said. A video that quickly went viral showed a white pickup truck adorned with a Trump flag and registered to Jerich’s father burn tire marks into a rainbow design painted on the road at an intersection.
Officials said the streetscape had been officially unveiled just a day earlier to celebrate Pride Month, which is meant to promote LGBTQ rights.
However, the case then took an unusual turn when a judge ordered him to write a 25-page essay about the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting. The attack, which was carried out by 29-year-old Islamic militant Omar Mateen, led to the deaths of 49 people and the injuries of a further 58. At the time of the tragedy, it was the deadliest mass shooting in American history.
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