Current:Home > Contact-usAtlanta man arrested after driving nearly 3 hours to take down Confederate flag in SC: Officials-InfoLens
Atlanta man arrested after driving nearly 3 hours to take down Confederate flag in SC: Officials
View Date:2024-12-23 11:32:43
An Atlanta man is facing a trespassing charge after authorities said he drove nearly three hours to South Carolina to vandalize a Confederate battle flag.
The incident happened on Saturday in Spartanburg, South Carolina, about 33 miles northeast of Greenville, according to a document filed by the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office.
Someone called the sheriff’s office that day about trespassing on Interstate 85 southbound at the 76 mile marker, the document reads. A deputy arrived and spoke to a witness who said the 23-year-old man climbed a fence and tried to lower a Confederate flag.
The deputy spoke to the man, who admitted he climbed the fence because he does not agree with the Confederate flag.
The deputy said the man also had tools such as a Dremel and drill bits.
The deputy wrote there are "no trespassing" signs along the fence that the man climbed over, adding that a day before the flag incident, someone vandalized the same Confederate flag.
When the deputy asked the man if he had been on the property that Friday night, he said he had not. He did, however, admit to driving from Atlanta to Spartanburg County to lower the flag.
“Daniel was very upfront and cooperative during questioning,” the deputy wrote.
The man was arrested, taken to jail and issued a ticket for trespassing.
“The tools and Daniels cell phone were seized for evidence purposes for both the trespassing and vandalism,” the deputy wrote.
The flag was originally erected by the Sons of Confederate Veterans in 2022, according to television station Fox 5 Atlanta. The organization's Spartanburg chapter owns the property.
According to a spokesperson for the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office, the flag the man tried to take down is the Confederate battle flag.
The meaning of the Confederate flag
The Confederate flag was flown during the Civil War when the following states separated themselves from the nation in the defense of slavery: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
Today, while the flag represents racism to some Americans, others recognize it as a sign of their heritage.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at@SaleenMartin or email her at[email protected].
veryGood! (51)
Related
- Glen Powell Addresses Rumor He’ll Replace Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible Franchise
- Saving for retirement? Here are the IRA contribution limits for 2025
- Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker's Baby Rocky Gets Priceless Birthday Gift From Sylvester Stallone
- Ag Pollution Is Keeping Des Moines Water Works Busy. Can It Keep Up?
- Will Trump curb transgender rights? After election, community prepares for worst
- Americans say they're spending less, delaying big purchases until after election
- Dogs on the vice-presidential run: Meet the pups of candidates Tim Walz and JD Vance
- Here's why it's so important to catch and treat glaucoma early
- When do new 'Yellowstone' episodes come out? Here's the Season 5, Part 2 episode schedule
- What Donny Osmond Really Thinks of Nephew Jared Osmond's Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Fame
Ranking
- New Orleans marks with parade the 64th anniversary of 4 little girls integrating city schools
- JonBenét Ramsey Docuseries Investigates Mishandling of Case 28 Years After Her Death
- NFL trade deadline live updates: Latest news, rumors, analysis ahead of Tuesday's cutoff
- Enrollment increases at most Mississippi universities but 3 campuses see decreases
- Kelly Rowland and Nelly Reunite for Iconic Performance of Dilemma 2 Decades Later
- The Daily Money: Spending less on election eve?
- NFL trade deadline: Ranking 10 best players who still might be available
- TikToker Bella Bradford, 24, Announces Her Own Death in Final Video After Battle With Rare Cancer
Recommendation
-
The Daily Money: Mattel's 'Wicked' mistake
-
The Best Dry Shampoo for All Hair Types – Get Clean & Refreshed Strands in Seconds
-
Santa's delivery helpers: Here are how the major shippers are hiring for the holidays
-
Manslaughter charges dropped in a man’s death at a psychiatric hospital
-
Women suing over Idaho’s abortion ban describe dangerous pregnancies, becoming ‘medical refugees’
-
Storm in the Caribbean is on a track to likely hit Cuba as a hurricane
-
Wisconsin Senate race pits Trump-backed millionaire against Democratic incumbent
-
Manslaughter charges dropped in a man’s death at a psychiatric hospital