St. Pete police arrest man, 18, accused of vandalizing Pride street mural

St. Petersburg police have arrested a man who they say vandalized an LGBTQ+ street mural by doing burnouts on it.

Christian Maier, 18, of St. Petersburg was arrested Monday on charges of felony criminal mischief and racing or stunt driving on a public street, the police department said in a news release.

The Progressive Pride street mural, located at the intersection of Central Avenue and 25th Street South, was vandalized May 22, when surveillance footage captured a blue, two-door vehicle spinning out and doing doughnuts over the mural, police previously said.

In the news release Monday, police said Maier was captured on video about 3:45 a.m. that day “recklessly maneuvering his car in a way to leave several tire marks across the mural and causing significant damage.”

The damage to the mural was estimated at $1,100, police previously said. The city and volunteers restored it in time for Pride month celebrations.

In February, a 19-year-old Clearwater man was arrested in connection to a similar incident in Delray Beach. Police say Dylan Brewer did burnouts over an LGBTQ+ street mural at the intersection of Northeast First Street and Northeast Second Avenue on Feb. 4.

Brewer was charged with one felony count of criminal mischief over $1,000 and one count of reckless driving. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Records show Maier was released from the Pinellas County Jail after posting a $5,500 bond Monday. He has pleaded not guilty through an attorney. Police said the investigation is ongoing.