Dylan Brewer, of Clearwater, Florida, has been arrested for felony criminal mischief for using his truck to do multiple “burnouts” with his vehicle on the Delray Beach LGBTQ+ Pride Intersection. The crime, captured by security cameras in a nearby garage, showed the truck sported a large Trump flag. Several witnesses to the crime also provided cellphone footage to the Delray Beach Police Department. Here’s one of the videos: https://youtu.be/zbXMuazXTq8?si=Y-r-27EdYKa-iTWx Brewer, 19, was arrested Monday morning and charged with felony criminal mischief over $1000 and reckless driving. He is currently in jail. Defacement of the memorial to the LGBTQ+ community should be considered a hate crime, according to retired judge Rand Hoch, President and Founder of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (PBCHRC). But, local State Attorney David Aronberg previously determined that since the intersection is owned by a municipality and not an individual, Florida’s hate crime statute does not apply. PBCHRC President Rand Hoch and Compass Executive Director Julie Seaver at the dedication of the Pride Intersection (photo: PBCHRC) PBCHRC is Florida’s oldest, independent, non-partisan, political organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. In 2021, the PBCHRC Charitable Foundation and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation paid $16,000 for the installation of the LGBTQ+ Pride Intersection. This is the second time the Delray Beach LGBTQ+ Pride Intersection has been defaced. https://youtu.be/7Im46XAFL2w?si=QQl3_J-XqRz-npFw In June 2021, just days after the Intersection was dedicated, Palm Beach County resident Alexander Jerich used his truck bearing a huge Trump flag to do “burnouts” on the intersection following a birthday event for former President Donald Trump sponsored by the Palm Beach County Republican Party. Thanks to a thorough investigation by the Delray Beach Police Department, Jerich was arrested and charged with criminal mischief and reckless driving. Because of State Attorney Aronberg’s determination, Jerich was not charge with a hate crime. Facing trial, Jerich admitted he committed the crime. Although he could have been sentenced to jail, Judge Steven Suskauer ordered Jerich to write an essay on the victims of the PUSLE massacre and pay restitution to the City of Delray Beach. https://twitter.com/PBCHRC/status/1424805134018781184
