On Tuesday, a statue of the Ten Commandments was installed at the Arkansas Capitol grounds. Less than a day later, it had been run over by a car and destroyed.
Michael Reed, a 32-year-old from Van Buren, Arkansas with a history of mental illness, recorded himself ramming his car into the monument, shouting "freedom" shortly before impact. Reed has previously been accused of destroying a similar Ten Commandments monument in Oklahoma.
He was arrested shortly afterwards. He is facing charges of of defacing objects of public respect, trespassing on Capitol grounds and first-degree criminal mischief. He's being held without bail.
MUG SHOT: Michael Reed, 32, arrested for driving into and destroying Ten Commandments monument on Capitol grounds #ARNews #arpx #arleg pic.twitter.com/SHZawoZpe6
— Austin Kellerman (@AustinKellerman) June 28, 2017
Additionally, Reed made threats against former Presidents George H.W. Bush, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush on his Facebook page.
More for Michael Reed -- appears to be talking about after he ran into the monument in OKC pic.twitter.com/T0mXnLKOzP
— Joe Pennington (@5NEWSJoe) June 28, 2017
Prior to his arrest, Reed created a GoFundMe page to crowdfund money to repair his car. He was seeking $20,000. The page appears to have been taken down and is not available.
Prior to ramming Ten Commandments monument, Reed appears to have started a GoFundMe account to replace his car. Seeking $20K. #ARNews pic.twitter.com/iK3aMahyqW
— Marci Manley (@Marci_Manley) June 28, 2017
The monument was paid for by private donations.
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