ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A teenager was arrested for allegedly defacing the Pride mural in St. Petersburg after being caught on video.
Christian Maier, 18, was seen on video on May 22 at 3:45 a.m. doing circular "doughnut-burnouts" in his car at the mural at the Central Avenue and 25th Street intersection, according to police.
Surveillance video from Ride'em Cowboy, a nearby country bar, captured footage of the vandalism. Police said he caused "significant damage."
Maier is charged with felony criminal mischief and racing on a street.
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch responded to the vandalism on his Instagram page.
Welch said there is "no place for hate in St. Petersburg" and that his office "stands united" in valuing citizens "regardless of their orientation, gender identity or expression."
"Our differences make St. Pete the vibrant and diverse community we cherish," Welch said in the Instagram post.
This isn't the only instance of a Pride mural being defaced by Tampa Bay residents. Earlier in February, a Clearwater man was arrested for vandalizing an LGBTQ+ intersection in Delray Beach, according to a report from WPEC-TV.
The mural was restored in time for Pride Month festivities.