[B]URLINGTON — Burlington police have released a video of the suspect in the arson of a pride flag in the Old North End earlier this month.
Police are investigating the arson on Bright Street as a possible hate crime, and have determined the burning of the flag occurred at approximately 4:30 a.m. on June 1.
A nearby surveillance camera captured the suspect lighting the flag on fire, which is quickly engulfed in flame.
“The surveillance footage showed a lone actor walking directly to the residence and lighting the flag on fire without hesitation,” according to a police press release. “The suspect then casually walked away from the scene toward Riverside Avenue.”
Chris Vaccaro, the owner of the burned flag, told VTDigger earlier this month that he and his husband Jimmie Searle were celebrating Pride with friends in Montreal when a neighbor told them the flag had been set on fire.
“It took us five hours to stop shaking, someone could have burned down the house,” Vaccaro said. “We are shaken.”
Burlington police purchased a new flag for Vaccaro and Searle, and Vaccaro said he was pleased with the outpouring of support from the city’s LGBTQ community.
“If this happened once, it can happen again, but there is so much support for love from the LGBTQ community,” Vaccaro said. “I draw my strength from the LGBTQ community here in Burlington.”
Police released a second video of a person riding a bicycle on Riverside Avenue toward Intervale Road around the time of the crime, who police are looking to interview as a potential witness.
Those with information about the incident or the individuals in the video are encouraged to call 802-540-2288.
