ST. CLAIR SHORES (WWJ) - Police are asking for the public’s help identifying the person or people damaging and stealing a St. Clair Shores man’s Israeli flags.
The victim has had his Israel flag damaged or stolen from his home, on Greater Mack Avenue near Grossedale Street, on four separate occasions, according to a Facebook post from the St. Clair Shores Police Department. Three of the four incidents were caught on video.
The victim, who described himself as a “proud Jewish man” to WWJ’s Mike Campbell, flies both an Israeli and American flag. He said there have been at least four incidents since February.
The flagpoles have also been taken in two instances. The flag and pole have been replaced by the victim each time.
The incidents are nothing but “pure hate,” the victim told Campbell.
There were two incidents on March 2 and one on March 9 that were recorded. All three videos were posted to the St. Clair Shores Police Department Facebook.
In the first recording from March 2, a man in a light colored hoodie, light pants, dark sandals and a facemask is seen running up to the flag and touches the flag before running back to a white SUV, possibly a Jeep Patriot. The suspect gets into the passenger seat and the SUV leaves the area. Police said there was damage done to the flag during this recording, but what the damage was is unclear. The time stamp on the video shows it took place around 9:57 p.m.
The suspect returns about five minutes later, at approximately 10:02 p.m. and tries to remove the flag. The flagpole is bent as the suspect pulls the flag. After several attempts to dislodge the flag and possibly the pole, the suspect leaves it and runs back to the waiting vehicle.
In the final video, recorded on March 9 at around 12:47 a.m., a similar looking white SUV is seen in front of the victim’s home. The suspect gets out of the driver's seat and runs up to the flag. They use what appear to be scissors, based on the movement of their hand, to cut down the flag. Once the flag is removed from the flagpole, the suspect takes it and runs back to their vehicle. The suspect appears to be wearing similar clothing to the incidents on March 2.
Police told Campbell that the case cannot be investigated as a hate crime because currently, there is no evidence to prove that is the motive. They are investigating it as “malicious destruction of property” as well as possible larceny.
There is a suspect in mind, they just need to identify the person in the video, police told Campbell.
Anyone with information about the incidents or Ring camera footage of the SUV and where it may have gone are asked to contact the St. Clair Shores Police Department. Their non-emergency number is 586-445-5300
The investigation is ongoing.