Trump birthday rally driver arrested for vandalizing Pride street art

Florida police have arrested a driver for vandalizing Pride street art during a Trump birthday rally, Yahoo! News reported on Thursday.

Video of the incident shows the suspect, Alexander Jerich, doing burnouts in his pickup truck at an intersection dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community for Pride Month. 

How it started for 20yo Palm Beach County Trump supporter Alexander Jerich…

1/3 pic.twitter.com/dvgnf8bcMz

— SFDB (@sfdb) June 17, 2021

Jerich’s truck also had a blue flag on its rear which said “All aboard the Trump Train.” Jerich and other drivers were participating in a birthday rally for former President Trump, according to Yahoo! News. 

“On Monday, Jerich was seen by witnesses, doing what appeared to be an intentional ‘burnout’ with his vehicle over the LGBTQ pride crosswalk at the intersection of NE 1st Street and NE 2nd Avenue,” Delray Beach Police Department spokesperson Ted White told The Hill in a statement. 

“This caused the vehicle to create significant damage to the streetscape painting. Another witness provided smartphone video of the crime.” 

Jerich, 20, turned himself in to DBPD and was charged with criminal mischief over $1,000, reckless driving, and evidence of prejudice. Jerich’s statement to DBPD said he preplanned his route, Yahoo! noted. 

A spokeswoman for Compass, an LGBTQ+ community center in Palm Beach, told Yahoo! News that she was very happy to see Jerich’s arrest.

“I was glad to hear Delray Beach Police was taking this seriously and that an arrest was made this quickly,” spokeswoman Claudia Harrison said. 

Jerich was taken into custody at the Palm Beach County Jail.  

Updated 8:29 p.m.