Brent Jones was arrested in Atlanta after allegedly urinating on Martin Luther King Jr.’s Eternal Flame.

Arrest Made After Desecration At Historic King Center

Brent Jones was arrested in Atlanta early Saturday morning after police say he urinated on the Eternal Flame on the King Center, a nationwide memorial honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Officers responded to a trespassing name round 4:30 a.m. and located the 26-year-old damaging the location’s reflecting pool and making an attempt to extinguish the symbolic flame.

Police Say Jones Caused Thousands In Damage

According to arrest data, Jones ignored instructions to go away the premises and as an alternative “began damaging the property further by urinating into the reflection pool at The King Center where Dr. Martin Luther King and Ms. Coretta Scott King were laid to rest.” Authorities estimate the harm at almost $3,000.

The report additionally says Jones “damaged the eternal flame at the location that is a memorial site for Dr. King Jr.” by urinating on it “to put it out.” Officers added he was “stomping on the Eternal Flame, causing significant damage.”

@erynrogerstv Police arrested a person for breaking the Eternal Flame and peeing within the reflection pool close to the gravesite of MLK, Jr. #MLK #vandalism #atlanta #news #arrest music/original-sound-7560478285747587871?refer=embed”>♬ authentic sound – Eryn

Eternal Flame Represents King’s Legacy

The Eternal Flame, as described on the King Center’s website, “symbolizes the continuing effort to realize Dr. King’s dream of the ‘Beloved Community.’” It is a centerpiece of the memorial web site, which attracts 1000’s of holiday makers annually.

Police say Jones climbed into the flame’s metallic basin and “stood in the pot damaging it.” He additionally “proceeded to scatter the documents that were on the memorial podium for Dr. King Jr.”

Suspect Resisted Arrest And Fought Security

Security employees tried to take away Jones from the realm, however the report says he “began attempting to fight” the guard. After being handcuffed, Jones reportedly slipped out of the restraints and continued resisting arrest.

While in custody on the precinct, he allegedly “attempted to expose himself and urinate” once more, prompting an extra public indecency cost.

Multiple Charges Filed

Jones now faces a number of expenses together with second-degree prison harm to property, prison trespass, obstruction of regulation enforcement and public indecency. He was booked into Fulton County Jail.

King Center Calls Incident “Minor”

The King Center issued a short assertion referring to the incident as “minor” and didn’t present additional particulars about repairs or potential modifications to safety.

This incident follows a separate case in 2023, when a lady was arrested for allegedly making an attempt to set hearth to Dr. King’s birth home, in accordance with NBC News.

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