Police in northwestern Montana say a man was arrested on a felony criminal mischief charge after he pulled down a Ten Commandments monumen...
Police in northwestern Montana say a man was arrested on a felony criminal mischief charge after he pulled down a Ten Commandments monument using a chain and pickup truck.
Anthony Weimer, a 30-year-old Columbia Falls man, reportedly wrapped a chain around the religious monument on the Flathead County courthouse grounds on Saturday. He then attached the chain to his truck and pulled the monument into the street, the Kalispell Police Department told NBC Montana.
The Ten Commandments monument at the Flathead County courthouse before it was allegedly torn down by Anthony Weimer
The Flathead County Courthouse in Kalispell, Montana
Weimer has been charged with felony criminal mischief
Weimer then reportedly removed the chain, got back into the truck and left the scene. He was later arrested after police located the truck allegedly used in the act.
Police say they do not know why the suspect allegedly took down the monument.
In 2011, the Kalispell City Council was asked to take possession of the statue and six others at the courthouse, the AP reported according to Fox News.
However, the council declined, fearing a lawsuit.
The AP reported that the Fraternal Order of the Eagles had given the Ten Commandments statue to Flathead County in 1950. At that time it was placed in front of the courthouse.
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