POUGHKEEPSIE – A homeowner on Mill Street in Poughkeepsie has been the victim of a possible hate crime after an individual stole a Rainbow flag, commonly called a Gay Pride flag, from the front of his house on Tuesday, January 26. The theft was captured by the victim’s doorbell camera around 7:15 a.m. and can be viewed below.
Homeowner Ryan Doughty said the recent flag theft is the second time this has happened at the house located near the intersection of Mill and North Bridge Streets in the city. In the fall of 2019, a Gay Pride flag was mounted on a pole near the sidewalk in front of the historic house when an individual resembling the perpetrator of Tuesday’s theft, walked up and stole the flag. That theft was also caught on video, but the suspect’s face was not clearly visible.
When Doughty and his partner Joshua Taylor replaced the flag, they hung it on a pole attached near the front door of the house. The new location is under the surveillance of the security cameras.
On Tuesday, the camera recorded a black man walking across Mill Street towards the Doughty residence, up the steps, removing the flag, and carrying it away with him. The suspected thief fled east on Mill Street towards Dongan Square Park.
City of Poughkeepsie Police responded to take a report of the incident from Doughty on Tuesday afternoon.
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“We are not deterred by the flag thefts,” said Doughty. “We will replace it as many times as needed.” Doughty noted that he has already been researching ways to secure the flag in a manner that makes it more difficult to be stolen.
City of Poughkeepsie Councilman Chris Petsas represents the first ward where the crime occurred. “Behavior like this is unacceptable, regardless of the motivation behind it. Our police department is aware of the incident and I am confident in their ability to apprehend the perpetrator.” Petsas also made a plea to city residents. “I am asking residents of the first ward and the entire city to be diligent in helping the police prevent crime. If you see something, call the police at 845-451-4000.
