Police Charge 18-Year-Old With Felony For Doing Donuts On Pride Mural
Police arrested an 18-year-old St. Petersburg native for allegedly doing “donut-burnouts” on a Pride mural, according to a press release from the Florida-based police department.
“Maier was captured on video on May 22nd, at 3:45 a.m., recklessly maneuvering his car in a way to leave several tire marks across the mural and causing significant damage,” the press release reads.
Maier is charged with felony criminal mischief and racing on the street. The press release notes that the Pride mural was restored “in time for Pride Month festivities,” though the investigation is open and ongoing.
Maier has pleaded not guilty through an attorney and was released from Pinellas County Jail after posting a $5,500 bond.
It’s unclear whether Maier was a lone actor. According to a report from Florida Voice News, police reported two separate incidents of cars damaging the “Progressive Pride” street mural. Police believe the two incidents are unrelated.
Maier is charged for an incident on May 22 where his blue two-door car was spotted doing donuts on the mural, as seen in video footage. On May 17, police said a truck “accelerated through the mural” leaving marks on the mural meant to highlight the “birthplace of St. Pete Pride.”
Some online are calling for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to pardon Maier. Many popular X accounts note the discrepancies between what mainstream media outlets dub as “hate speech” and what they dub “free speech.”
Several “memes” show marks on Pride murals dubbed “hate speech,” while burning an American flag, looting in the names of popular racial movements, and attacking Christians is dubbed “free speech.”
Similar felony charges were lobbed against a 19-year-old Clearwater resident who was arrested in connection to burnouts on an LGBT street mural in Delray Beach. That man also pleaded not guilty after being charged with a felony count of criminal mischief for $1,000 in damages to the mural.
