State troopers on Friday identified a man who ripped the Pennsylvania state flag from a pole outside a Sheetz convenience store in Hempfield. The flag was flying at half-staff in honor of two troopers who were killed in the line of duty this week.
Trooper Steve Limani said tips from the public after police released surveillance video of the incident helped them locate the suspect and flag Friday afternoon.
The man went to the store on Route 30 near Westmoreland Mall around 10 a.m. and did not buy anything. He smoked a cigarette and looked at his phone before moving his attention to the cord attached to the flag and pole, according to police.
Once the blue state flag was low enough, surveillance video shows him yanking repeatedly at it while a pickup drives through the parking lot.
“He just starts ripping at it until it just rips off,” Limani said.
On 03/25/22 at approx 1005 hours the pic male stole the Commonwealth flag which was flying at half mast for the two fallen Troopers being flown at the Sheetz past Eastgate toward Latrobe.
— Troopers Steve Limani & Cliff Greenfield (@PSPTroopAPIO) March 25, 2022
He did not enter the Sheetz or purchase gas just went and stole the flag. pic.twitter.com/K7walEq7Ul
The man then got into a Volkswagen car and left. Charges will be filed at a later date.
On Monday, Gov. Tom Wolf ordered the state flag be flown at half-staff in honor of Troopers Martin F. Mack III, 33, and Branden T. Sisca, 29, who were hit and killed by a driver on Interstate 95 in Philadelphia. The pair were helping a pedestrian walking on the highway into their patrol unit. The pedestrian also died.
Limani said he hopes that’s not the reason why the man pulled down the flag.
“Hopefully, it’s nothing to do with the two troopers,” he said.
The state’s flag features its coat of arms along with two horses and an eagle set on a blue background. A shield on the coat of arms depicts a ship, plow, wheat, olive branch and cornstalk, along with the words “virtue, liberty and independence.” Its design was first authorized by the General Assembly in 1799.
