Pride flag tampering caught on camera: Indio business takes a stand against hate
Police are investigating after a customer tampered with a pride flag at an Indio shipping store.
Absolutely Postal, located on Fred Waring Drive and Jefferson Street, was targeted earlier this week when a customer was caught on surveillance footage folding the flag in half. The pride flag, which is prominently displayed at the front of the business, is intended to convey the inclusive message, "Everyone is welcome here."
The incident has sparked outrage among employees, who are determined to send a strong message that hate will not be tolerated.
"We feel that everyone is welcome here. We want to make sure that everyone feels that way," said Rebecca Mata, a manager at Absolutely Postal. Mata and manager Mike Pool said the act of vandalism happened Wednesday. They discovered it only after closing time and spent hours reviewing the surveillance footage to identify the culprit.
On the security footage, a man and woman are seen entering the store together. As the woman spoke with an employee at the counter, the unidentified man made his way back to the pride flag, removing the thumbtacks and folding it in half to conceal its message.
Cameras are clearly everywhere throughout the store along with a large video monitor at the checkout counter. The stores employees say the man's brazen act despite such measures demonstrates a clear intent.
"Just shows the mentality of him, that he's comfortable doing this," Pool said. "He's done it this time, maybe he'll do it again."
They filed a police report and Indio Police Department is investigating whether a crime was committed. Friday afternoon, police said News Channel 3's report helped detectives identify the suspect. The woman seen in the footage was also identified as a non-officer Indio Police Department employee. She was placed on administrative leave pending further investigation.
"Vandalism, hate whatever it might be. It's something that's should not be tolerated," said spokesperson Ben Guitron.
More: California Penal Code on Vandalism and Hate Crime.
Mata and Pool have taken to social media to share their story and encourage others to challenge acts of hatred and discrimination. "I hope that people know that they have allies and that they have people that are going to stand up for them and call out hate when there is blatant hate," Mata stated firmly.
Their message is clear: at Absolutely Postal, everyone is welcome, but bigotry is not.
