An argument over the American flag turned physical along a stretch of Highway 200, ending with a bent flagpole, multiple witnesses stepping in, and a felony arrest.
According to a Marion County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit, deputies responded to the 9500 block of SW Highway 200 after witnesses reported that an 81-year-old man had been attacked while walking along the sidewalk carrying a large American flag on a pole, something he told deputies he does regularly.
The man said he believed he recognized the suspect as someone who had previously yelled at him from a passing vehicle, accusing him of allowing the flag to touch the ground. This time, according to the report, the suspect pulled off the roadway and onto the sidewalk behind him.
The victim told deputies he felt a strong pull on the flag from behind and heard the suspect yelling about the flag being dragged. A struggle followed, with the two men wrestling over the flag and pole. During the altercation, the victim said he was pushed and struck, eventually losing control of the flag.
Deputies noted that the flagpole was later found bent in half in the dirt next to the sidewalk.
Multiple witnesses who stopped along the busy roadway described a similar sequence of events. One witness told deputies he saw the suspect attempting to yank the flag away while yelling about it touching the ground and pushing the victim in the torso. Another witness reported seeing the suspect gain control of the flag and bend the pole before continuing to act aggressively, prompting bystanders to intervene.
One of those bystanders stepped in to stop the altercation, at one point striking the suspect as he attempted to move back toward the victim. The suspect then left the scene in a white Jeep Cherokee, later identified as a rental vehicle.
A short time later, the suspect contacted the sheriff’s office, stating he had seen information about the incident circulating online and wanted to provide his version of events. He told deputies he stopped because he believed the flag was being dragged and said he was trying to help. He also claimed he was struck during the encounter and described being confronted by multiple individuals before leaving.
After meeting with deputies, who observed minor injuries consistent with being struck and damage to the rental vehicle, investigators determined there was probable cause based on witness statements and physical evidence.
The suspect, identified as Kevin Boyd King, 60, was arrested and charged with battery on a person 65 or older, a felony, and criminal mischief under $200 related to the damaged flagpole, which the victim estimated would cost about $100 to replace.
The victim was evaluated at the scene and reported no injuries.
