Caught on camera: Woman rips up 7 American flags in Jeffco

DENVER ( KDVR ) — A woman was caught on camera vandalizing an American flag in broad daylight and then flipping the bird at the camera in defiance.

Now, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office needs help identifying her.

FOX31’s Talya Cunningham learned it wasn’t just one flag that was vandalized, the woman allegedly ripped up seven American flags during the week of June 5 and put on quite the show for the surveillance camera.

The sheriff’s office said they believe the woman used a small blade or even a key to tear the flags.

In the video released by the sheriff’s office on Monday, the woman walks up to the flag, well aware that she’s on camera, and uses a sharp object to rip the flag. Seemingly proud of her actions, she walks into the view of the recording and does a curtsey for the camera.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said this woman did the same thing to seven other flags around their headquarters.

The camera also captures the woman putting up her middle finger to the camera. The sheriff’s office made some jokes about the gesture and posted on X saying, ”She used her tallest finger to let us know we are No. 1.”

All jokes aside, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office said they are sad about this incident, and it was done in poor taste as these flags have significance. The flags were posted in honor of fallen officers.

Although it happened on June 5, the sheriff’s office is releasing the video now in hopes that someone will recognize her. She faces a misdemeanor charge of Criminal Mischief with her actions protected under the First Amendment.

If you recognize her, you are asked to call the Jeffco tipline at 303-271-5612.

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