Idiot in Illinois Burning the American Flag Arrested
WAND17 Reports
URBANA – Many calls to authorities about an Urbana man allegedly burning an American flag then being threatened over it resulted in his arrest, then later, his release.
Urbana Police say they received calls about a Facebook post involving Bryton Mellott, who was shown burning an American flag. The contents of that post caused some to call and request police action again Mellott.
Meanwhile, others were calling to express concern for Mellott’s safety and those around him. According to Urbana Police, many had threatened violence against Mellott and his place of employment on the post itself.
Officers viewed the post and discovered that there were a rapidly growing number of social media responses.
Given the number of responses and specific threats against his place of employment, where Urbana Police say an act of violence would likely cause harm to others, they became involved in the case.
After investigating the incident and speaking to both Mellott and his employer, he was placed under arrest for flag desecration.
According to Urbana authorities, the police report lists Mellott as an offender of both flag desecration and disorderly conduct, it but also lists him as a victim of disorderly conduct.
Mellott was later released from custody after the Urbana Police Department consulted with a member of the State’s Attorney’s Office. He was then given a notice to appear in court. Authorities say they released him as there were questions about the constitutionality of the 2013 Illinois flag desecration law.
In a press release from the Urbana Police, they said the following:
“The Urbana Police department recognizes that this is a case where the right of free speech comes into conflict with the safety of uninvolved citizens. The actions taken in this case have been to try to assure the safety of the public and Mr. Mellott. The Urbana Police urge the public to express themselves in a peaceful way and to not retaliate against unpopular speech.”
People burn and stomp the flag on a regular basis. Why aren’t they being arrested. Don’t make sense.
Because its hard to get them all lol. He has the right to express an inconsistent and idiotic opinion. Maybe he shouldnt be arrested but my gut sense is that if you hate your country maybe you should be divested of its citizenship. What this guy is really saying is that he isn’t on the team. Why should anyone do jack for him?
I can see that you are about as dumb as the idiot himself. What people “burn and stomp” the American Flag on a daily basis??
Their right to free speech has nothing to do with desecrating the American flag. The penalty for which needs to be enforcemed.
I Further believe that those who desecrate the flag should lose their citizenship, voting rights, gun rights, welfare, goverment grants, government loans including student loans, passports, driving priveledges and any other benefits or priveledges enjoyed by U.S. Citizens.
If people are making threats against him and others, then those are the ones who need investigating.
According to the Supreme Court in a earlier decision it’s protected as “freedim of speech ‘ under the Constitution
Deportation , I say if you have a problem with Americia, USA ! …..GET OUT !
This UN-American individual should be punished. If you study the rules of the flag, desecration was at one time a federal offense that had penalties involved. When the supreme (chuckle) court was a majority left leaning judicial system, they interpreted it as free speech. Should this idiot meet a Patriot, justice will prevail.
It’s the right of an idiot to burn the flag. It should be his right to suffer the threats of another idiot to do him harm until the harm is committed
The ASSHOLE needs to be hanged
This idiot should be shipped to N. Korea, I’m pretty sure he’d fit right in. Spoiled moron who can’t appreciate the country he lives in.
What the flag is and what it represents can not be desiccated by anyone. Just a piece of painted cloth got burned by a disturbed and confused young man.
He just wants attention, and you fed his ego with your hate.
Let it stop here.