Benjamin Michael, Dallas business executive arrested for vandalism of Pride banner.
While visiting Annapolish he tore down a Pride banner and caught on surveliance video. Shown to the community, he was identified and arrested.
Subscriptions are free.
Vandalism against Pride banner.
The banner hangs outside at the Dapper Dog Tattoo parlor in Annapolish, MD. They have surveliance cameras. The morning after the vandalism the owner saw tha the banner was lying on the ground and checked the video cameras.
He shared this still and asked the residents of Annapolis help track down who the vandal was.
And someone knew who he was.
Facebook reel.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/899381835233937
Dapper Dog Tattoo Shop’s Facebook Posts.
Police Report of Crime.
https://annapolis.gov/CivicSend/ViewMessage/message/246122
News coverage of Vandalism
WJZ News, CBS, Nov. 19, “Naval Academy graduate charged with hate crime after pride flag ripped from Annapolis store.”
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY -- A Naval Academy graduate is facing hate crime charges after Annapolis City police said he ripped a pride flag from a store and threw it in the trash.
According to the report, a tip from an employee who worked at a nearby restaurant helped police identify the suspect as Benjamin Michael of Dallas, Texas. Officers said Michael is a Naval Academy graduate and served in the Marine Corps.
Michael was charged with a hate crime and destruction of property, the police report shows.
WTOP News, Nov. 18, 2024, “Navel Academy grad accused of hate crime after desecrating public LGBTQ flag.”
WCBM, Nov. 18, 2024, “Naval Academy Grad Charged with ‘Hate Crime’ for Removing LGBTQ Flag.”
https://wcbm.com/local-story/naval-academy-grad-charged-with-hate-crime-for-removing-lgbtq-flag/
Baltimore Sun, Nov. 19, 2024, “Naval Academy graduate charged with hate crime after Pride flag ripped from Annapolis shop.”
https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/11/18/naval-academy-graduate-hate-crime-pride-flag/
X Commentator’s assessment.
I think that it might be true that with Trump elected, homophobes feel empowered to commit crimes.
https://x.com/TizzyEnt/status/1858576975763210466
Benjamin Michael’s profile on LinkedIn Disappeared, but Google has info about it.
His Linked in Page was pulled. Unfortunately no one saved it to the Internet Archive while it was still up.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminjmichael
However these are screen captures of Google’s trackings. The LinkedIn was gone, but the Google indexing of it was still online at Google.
Amy Smith of Watchkeep got screen captures of his LinkedIn before it disappeared. I took screen captures of her posts.
Evidently he is a graduate with an MBA from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University. He was a graduate of Coppell High School and was a “9-time letterman,” in sports.
https://x.com/watchkeep/status/1858587661482725787
https://x.com/watchkeep/status/1858601921122365871
I have been unable to find him in Internet Archive webpages of Integrity.com
Anyone who knew him in high school or college or at the United States Naval Academy please tell us what you know of this person.
Had worked at Integrity, trying to clarify his status at Integry now.
This is their online presence. They are based in Dallas.
Their webpage has some droll aspects.
News page, May 21, 2024, “Integrity Recognized Nationally as a Leading Company for Workplace Diversity.”
https://integrity.com/diversity2024/
Evidently this group recognized them.
They have core value of respect.
https://integrity.com/blog/integrity-culture-academy-our-core-value-of-respect/
Upon inquiry as to his status at Integrity I got this reply from Integrity. To the casual reader it might sound like he was terminated, but they aren’tusing that word, “terminated.” Also, they don’t say, “he doesn’t work with Integrity,” or other more clear cut statement. They say these two statements.
We have dealt with this situation directly and have taken action. This behavior does not reflect integrity nor our core values.
What does the above mean exactly. It isn’t specific. That could mean he lost his corner office or maybe he wasn’t going to get a company coffee mug.
Also, when you have core values that really reject Benjamin Michael’s actions, you don’t make evasive statements.
When I made an inquiry about this vague statement in the conversation in X, I got this reply.
The individual is no longer associated with Integrity. This behavior does not reflect Integrity or the company’s core values, including Respect.
The response is NOT, no longer with integrity, or no longer works at Integrity. Or Ingreity might say, “We are terminating all relationship with this individual.”
Further the individual’s name isn’t mentioned.
I didn’t get any further clarification from Integrity except a repeat of the statement of him no longer being associated with Integrity.
It would seem to me, that Integrity would want to make a statement that was definitive if they had terminated or were in the process of terminating any relationship with “this individual.”
Maybe he has been fired essentially, but there is some legal reason. However, it would be good to monitor Integrity to see if Benjamin Michael shows up later at Integrity.