Vandals destroy Utah pride flag in ongoing rash of similar thefts

LOGAN, Utah ( ABC4 ) — Logan Police are working to track down suspects after the most recent incident in a series of pride flag thefts and vandalism was caught on video.

Lt. Brad Franke with the Logan City Police Department said there have been approximately 10 cases of theft or vandalism regarding pride flags or related property this year. He said five of those incidents took place in just the past few weeks.

On Wednesday, Aug. 14, the police department shared a video of two suspects tearing a pride flag and a transgender flag off their posts outside of the Logan Pride Center near 60 East 100 North.

At this time, Franke said they do not know if the two suspects are responsible for any of the other vandalism and theft incidents as this is the only recent incident that was caught on video. Franke says he hopes there are not a lot of people engaging in these crimes and would “certainly like whoever is doing this to stop.”

“We’re really disappointed that … anyone would choose to violate other people’s property and rights here in this community. This is not the kind of community we have here in Logan,” Franke said.

Franke added that these acts are not just about the destruction of “a flag or a piece of property” but is something that is important to the victims and “affects people personally for weeks and months.”

“What really bothers us is that people would treat other people like this in our community,” Franke said.

Dorothy Wallis, president of the board at the Logan Pride Center, said this is the second time in two weeks that the flags have been vandalized. She said these acts will not deter them from operating as usual and preparing for their upcoming festival.

“It’s really not worth your time, we can get flags replaced at very little cost or no cost,” Wallis said. “We’ll be able to continue to have our flags out and continue to provide our services.”

She said the way the flag was destroyed, rather than stolen or taken down, caused some trepidation and nervousness among community members.

“You can see the video, you can hear the sound of the knife cutting … so that creates a lot of insecurity, frustration,” she said.

Chad Call, the executive director of the Utah Pride Center , released a statement after the most recent case saying that “the removal and vandalism of a pride flag is not only inappropriate, but is a constitutionally protected right of free speech.”

“All too often, symbols in the LGBTQ+ community, are met with discomfort or uncertainty, and in this case, they have been met with hate,” the statement read.

Logan police are asking anyone with information on the suspects or the recent crimes to contact the police department at 435-753-7555 or Officer Harflinger at 435-716-9317. Police said they are working to catch the suspects and hold them accountable for their crimes.

“It’s a frustrating spot to be in because we know that overall we get a lot more love than we do hate, but it’s just sometimes these acts, this kind of hatred, feels a little louder even when it’s not,” Wallis said.

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