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A man is facing multiple charges after police said he vandalized the Martin Luther King Jr. Center early Saturday morning.
According to Atlanta police, officers responded to the center at 449 Auburn Avenue NE around 4:30 a.m. When they arrived, officers said they saw a man urinating in the reflection pool and stomping on the eternal flame, causing significant damage.
Officers arrested the man, identified as Brent Jones, and charged him with criminal damage to property in the second degree, public indecency, and obstruction of law enforcement.
Police said Jones will be booked into the Fulton County Jail.
The King Center said it is still open to visitors and called the incident “minor.”
The full statement reads, “The King Center is aware of a minor incident that occurred near the Eternal Flame. While there was minimal damage to the Eternal Flame and the surrounding area, The King Center remains fully open to visitors. The Eternal Flame still burns with love, and we continue to welcome everyone with open arms and gratitude for the incredible support of our beloved community. The dream lives on.”
