Massachusetts

Police: Charges Filed Against Man for Urinating on Flags at Somerville Veterans Cemetery

A Boston man is facing charges for allegedly urinating on four American flags at Somerville Veterans Memorial Cemetery earlier this month.

Michael C. Lacey, 31, is facing charges of defacement of an American veteran's grave marker, open and gross lewdness and disturbing the peace, the Boston Globe reported Thursday.

Somerville police confirmed that they have identified a suspect and sought felony charges in Somerville District Court, and that a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

They said the suspect is currently in Rhode Island and they are working to have him extradited so he can face charges in Massachusetts.

The incident allegedly occurred on Sept. 10 and was captured by George Gatteny, who posted photos of the flags, Lacey, and a woman he was with on Facebook afterward. 

Police also released a photo of the male person of interest, asking for help identifying him.

Gatteny told NBC10 Boston he was sitting in traffic on Broadway in Somerville when he saw a man pull four miniature American flags from the ground with a woman acting as a lookout.

"Never imagined what I was about to see," Gatteny said.

He said the man then threw the flags behind a statue and urinated on them.

When he got out of his car and confronted the pair, Gatteny said they fled the area.

"They were walking, talking, as if nothing happened," said Gatteny.

According to Somerville Veterans Services, the cemetery contains remains of soldiers killed in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the 1983 Beirut bombing.

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