Caught On Camera: Man Sets Fire To American Flag In Long Beach
LONG BEACH (CBSLA.com) — Arson investigators sought the public's help on Thursday to locate a man who is responsible for removing an American flag from a home and destroying it.
Just before 8:30 a.m. on July 25, officers were sent to the 6200 block of Pageantry Street for report of vandalism, according to the Long Beach Police Department.
Upon their arrival, police learned a male suspect removed a 5-foot by 9-foot nylon American flag from a pole and burned it on the street between the hours of 12:25 a.m. and 12:50 a.m. of the previous day.
A preliminary investigation revealed the victims noticed their flag was missing when the metal pole was leaning against the roof of their home.
Police said the homeowners notified authorities after they found remnants of the burnt flag on the street in front of their neighbor's home.
Due to the nature of the crime, arson investigators were called to the scene.
Surveillance video has been released in hopes that someone may recognize the suspect.
The video revealed a man walked up to the victim's porch area and removed the American flag from the pole. He then moved around a vehicle to the street and proceeded to light the flag on fire with an open flame before he walked away from the scene.
Smoke and flames were seen within the video until the flag burned itself out.
No other property damage was located at the scene, police said.
Detectives described the suspect as a Caucasian or Hispanic man who is believed to be in his early 20s and has a stocky build.
The suspect has a tattoo on the outside of his left calf and a tattoo on the inside of his right calf.
He was last seen wearing a monster baseball cap, a T-shirt with a logo on the front of it and shorts, detectives added.
Police clarified that this crime is a felony, which is punishable by up to three years in state prison.
Authorities said they have exhausted all of their leads in this case.
Anyone who recognizes this man is urged to contact the Long Beach Fire Department at (562) 570-2575.
