Arrest made after vandal defaced George Floyd statue in NYC's Union Square

ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Monday, October 25, 2021
Arrest made after vandal defaced George Floyd statue in NYC
Michah Beals, 37, has been arrested for allegedly vandalizing a statue honoring George Floyd in Union Square.

UNION SQUARE, Manhattan (WABC) -- A 37-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly vandalizing a statue honoring George Floyd in Union Square earlier this month.

Police believe Michael Beals threw paint on the statue earlier this month before fleeing. He is charged with criminal mischief.

Nearby statues of late Congressman John Lewis and Breonna Taylor were not touched.

It happened Oct. 3, just four days after the statue was unveiled at the park the week before.

This was the second time a George Floyd statue has been vandalized in New York City. Back in June, an 11-foot-tall image of Floyd by the same artist was blasted with black paint in Flatbush, Brooklyn.

There is growing outrage in Brooklyn and in Newark after two statues to honor George Floyd were targeted by vandals.

Eyewitness News spoke with Floyd's brother Terrence Floyd at the time, who said he was saddened by the vandalism but not surprised because he says the hate still exists.

ALSO READ | Gabby Petito case: Laundrie family says they will not hold funeral for Brian

Brian Laundrie's skeletal remains were given to a forensic anthropologist to determine the cause of death.

----------

* Get Eyewitness News Delivered

* More Manhattan news

* Send us a news tip

* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts

* Follow us on YouTube

Submit a News Tip