PEORIA, Ill. – Peoria Police say three men have been arrested on hate crime charges after allegedly stealing and burning pride flags.
Police say they received complaints on Sunday of the flags stolen during the overnight hours, with video surveillance capturing the suspects in the act.
Police say a report came in Thursday night just after 10:45 P.M. of three males burning a flag in the area of Glenwood and Main.
Officers reportedly found the remnants of a burnt multi-colored flag in the middle of the street.
Witnesses told police three individuals stole a flag from a yard in the area, set it on fire, then fled on foot westbound on Columbia Terrace.
All three of the suspects were arrested in West Peoria.
They are 19-year-old Andrew Gohring, 21-year-old Noah Gohring, and 18-year-old Nathaniel Sheppard.
Andrew Gohring and Nathaniel Sheppard were each charged with Hate Crime, Criminal Damage to Property, and Theft. Noah Gohring was charged with Hate Crime, and 12 counts of Theft.
All three were taken to the Peoria County Jail.
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