The calls prompted the Urbana Police Department to investigate Mellott’s Facebook page, where he had posted photos of him burning an American flag along with the following commentary. The calls started coming in around 7:30 a.m., Sergeant Charles told me over the phone. Monday after police received numerous calls from citizens concerned about his safety and theirs. This is the first time the Urbana Police Department has seen the flag desecration statute used in 27 years.īryton Mellott was booked into the Campaign County Jail at about 9:47 a.m. A 22-year-old Illinois man has been charged with desecrating the American flag after he posted photos on Facebook FB along with messages decrying the state of violence and race in the U.S.
