Arrest Made In Meriden American Flag, Columbus Statue Vandalism: PD

MERIDEN, CT — A man is accused of vandalizing American flags and a Christopher Columbus statue in February.

Marco Mejil Jr., 30, turned himself in at police headquarters on Tuesday. Police charged him on a warrant with second-degree criminal mischief.

The vandalism happened Feb. 25, according to police.

Police said the vandal used a knife to cut the ropes of flags in the area of East Main and Broad streets. Police found a flagpole snapped approximately 15 feet from the ground.

On Feb. 26, Richard Doucette, the city’s superintendent of facilities, told investigators there was a missing POW flag, broken small American flags and graffiti on the Christopher Columbus statue.

Mejil is due to appear in Superior Court in Meriden on April 1.