KEY POINTS

  • A man was arrested after he threw a burning American flag onto a parked police vehicle
  • The vehicle was parked near the fountain inside Boston Common
  • Lucey also spat at the officers and hit one enforcer 

Authorities in Boston arrested a man who allegedly lit an American flag on fire and threw it onto a nearby police vehicle.

The act of disrespect happened late Sunday (May 24) during a memorial to honor the men and women who had given their lives to protect the country.

Police who were assigned to patrol Boston Common were approached by several witnesses and told them that they saw a man lighting an American flag and throwing it onto the roof of a Boston Police prisoner transport wagon, said ABC News.

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Most Americans can look forward to their barbecues and outdoor soirees for Memorial Day, as there’s nothing out of the ordinary on the horizon for Monday. Creative Commons

The vehicle, which was parked near the fountain inside the park, was unoccupied when the incident happened.

Officers responded to the scene following the report and arrested 40-year-old Daniel Lucey. He admitted to the accusations and told police that he committed the act as a sign of protest.

“Officers noted that the suspect was in possession of several other flags which appeared to be similar to the ones which are planted in front of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument over Memorial Day weekend to commemorate the Massachusetts service members who have given their lives in defense of the United States of America,” the Boston Police Department said in a statement, through WCVB.

While talking to authorities, Lucey proceeded to spit at them and hit one officer on his shoe, the statement added.

Lucey was arrested at the scene on charges of disorderly conduct, assault and battery on a police officer, malicious destruction of property and historical documents. As of press time, no specific date was given for his appearance before the Boston Municipal Court.

Lucey's alleged protest came after organizers planted one thousand American flags on the Boston Common to honor fallen heroes.

The flags were placed 6 feet apart by volunteers who gathered for a social distancing-compliant version of the annual flag garden.

The pandemic caused by COVID-19 limited the number of flags on the iconic landmark. Volunteers typically place more than 37,000 American flags to honor service members who have died since the American Revolution.

“It's harder to do this year because we don't have the ability we normally have to gather and remember the same way we normally do,” Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund President Tom Crohan told WCVB in a separate article.

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