Naval Academy Graduate Charged with Hate Crime for Removing LGBTQ Pride Flag
Benjamin Michael, a Naval Academy graduate and former Marine Corps service member, has been charged with a hate crime and malicious destruction of property after allegedly removing an LGBTQ Pride flag from the Dapper Dog Tattoo Shop in Annapolis.
According to police charging documents, this was the third time the Pride flag with the words “ABIDE NO HATRED” had been removed from its post. The shop’s co-owner had previously installed a security camera to monitor the area.
Surveillance footage captured a man in a black puffer vest removing the flag around 1 a.m. on Friday and placing it in a nearby trash can. A restaurant employee who recognized Michael from the security camera footage told police he was in the area for a Naval Academy football game, which Navy lost 35-0.
The tattoo shop had posted the surveillance image on social media, offering a free tattoo to anyone who could help identify the suspect. The woman who identified Michael provided his name and credit card receipt to police.
Michael, 44, from Dallas, has been issued a summons to appear in court. Both the hate crime charge and malicious destruction of property charge are misdemeanors. As of Monday morning, the summons had not been served, and a court date had not been set.
Attempts to contact Michael were unsuccessful, and representatives from the Marine Corps Communication Directorate did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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