A BlackLivesMatter leader and activist Terry Joe Wilson has been arrested for smearing Abraham Lincoln’s statue in “poop and paint” in Boise, Idaho in the month of February. He was issued a warrant for his arrest last week, following the vandalization of the statue.
Although Wilson has identified himself online as an associate professor and student at Boise State University, the institution told The Daily Wire he is “not a current student nor employee of the university.”
According to the Boise Police Department, Wilson fled from officers when he was first approached for his arrest after physical and electronic evidence was used to identify suspects.
The police department also released an official statement that reads, “Officers chased after Wilson and were able to stop him and take him into custody, at which time Wilson was found to be in possession of a firearm, marijuana and drug paraphernalia”
In February, police responding to reports of vandalism discovered the bronze statue of Lincoln in Julia Davis Park — known as “Seated Lincoln” — vandalized with feces, paint and signs. Parks and recreation staff were able to clean the statue, which was not permanently damaged.
As per reports, Wilson has been charged with “several misdemeanor counts, including injuring monuments, ornaments and public improvements, resisting and obstructing officers, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.”
City leaders condemned the defacement of the statue in February.
“Vandalism is a crime, never appropriate, and those committing these crimes will be held accountable,” Mayor Lauren McLean said at the time. “At a time when our democracy is fragile, this is particularly disturbing as President Lincoln sought to keep our fractured nation together and to address the scourge of slavery — losing his life for it.”
More arrests in connection to the vandalism incident are expected to be forthcoming.
