Flag-Stomper Caught With Knife And Nazi Flag: East Providence Cops

EAST PROVIDENCE, RI — A moped-driving Manville man pulled up at East Providence City Hall, pulled down the American and Cape Verdean flags at the entrance, and stomped on the Cape Verdean banner in the middle of a Cape Verdean Independence Day ceremony, police said.

The man, 27-year-old Joey Marsden, was also found to be in possession of a "large Nazi flag" and a knife with a 6-inch blade, police said.

Marsden was arrested and charged with vandalism, disorderly conduct and weapons other than firearms prohibited following the incident about noon Wednesday, according to police.

"The East Providence Police Department's Prosecution Division is currently working with the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office to determine if additional hate crime enhancements will be pursued in this case," the police department posted on its Facebook page.

After tossing the flags to the ground and stomping on the Cape Verdean flag, Marsden mounted his moped, police said, but didn't get far.

"Officers were able to apprehend the suspect on his moped a short distance away from City Hall," according to the Facebook post.

Despite throwing both flags to the ground, Marsden appeared to focus his fury more on the Cape Verdean flag than on the American one, as "Witnesses reported that Marsden was observed specifically stomping on the Cape Verdean flag," police said.

U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-Bristol), addressed the matter in a statement.

"I am deeply disturbed by the recent incident at the Cape Verdean Independence Celebration in East Providence, where a man carrying a Nazi flag and a knife tore down and vandalized American and Cape Verdean flags," Magaziner said.

"As Ranking Member for Counterterrorism, Intelligence and Law Enforcement on the Committee for Homeland Security, I am aware that extremist violence continues to be a threat to the safety of people in all parts of our country," he said. "I stand in full solidarity with the Cape Verdean community as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Cape Verde’s independence."