Man Breaks Flag Pole, Steals Pride Flag from Grand Haven Church

A Grand Haven church was vandalized Monday evening and the pastor is hoping for help identifying the suspect.

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Security camera footage from St. John's Episcopal Church shows a man in a blue hoodie and a black coat breaking a flag pole and stealing a pride flag at 6:20p.m. on Monday.

In a post to Facebook, the church shared this is not the first time this has happened, but since they installed security cameras, it is the first time they've been able to record footage of the vandalism.

The church's pastor, John Cramer tells Fox 17 that previously he'd hoped it was the wind that took down the other flags. He decided to invest in a stronger pole and security camera just to be safe. This will be the first time they have footage to show police. He adds,

This isn't simply a question of disagreeing with someone, but the amount of physical force needed to bend that pole. that violence is just deeply unsettling to me.

The Grand Haven Police Department is aware of the situation. Cramer asks that anyone who recognize the suspect in the video contact them. The phone number for the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety is 616-842-3460.

Cramer says in the post,

We will buy a new metal pole and a new flag and hang it as soon as we can—but even more importantly we will continue to celebrate the gifts of our queer members, stand with the LGBTQIA+ community in Grand Haven, and advocate for all of God's beloved children.