(APPLETON, WI.) — Criminal charges are now filed against an Appleton man accused of trying to burn the Pride Flag flying in front of the Outagamie County Criminal Justice Center. However, the incident does not meet statutory requirements to be classifed as a hate crime.
Steven Paltzer enters a not-guilty plea in Outagamie County Court to misdemeanor charges of criminal damage to property, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. He’s back in court on July 14.
Paltzer allegedly took down the flag and doused it in gasoline before Justice Center staff detained him on Monday. The flag had been raised earlier in the morning as part of Pride Month.
A new flag was put up after the incident.
