ATLANTA — Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis announced a grand jury indicted a man who is accused of defecating on a Pride flag at a hotel in August.
Ralph George Drabic is formally charged with criminal damage to property in the second degree -- motivated by bias or prejudice along with criminal trespass -- motivated by bias or prejudice. Willis said her office is seeking enhanced penalties against Drabic under the state's hate crime statute.
“We believe that these crimes were motivated by his prejudice and his hate," Willis said.
The charges stem from an incident the DA said happened at the Starling Atlanta Midtown hotel in August. Atlanta Police began investigating after property belonging to vendors of a Black pride event was vandalized at a Midtown hotel.
Organizers informed the hotel that someone had entered into the venue space overnight, defacing a Pride flag and damaging equipment and tables that were set up for Global Black Pride 2024.
“I can tell you I have spoken to the head of that organization. He supports us and is very happy that this indictment was brought because the acts of this gentleman caused fear in this community that was here in the United States for the first time to celebrate this event," Willis said.
"As part of this vandalism, the defendant is charged with removing an LGBTQ+ Pride flag from an exhibition booth, intentionally relocating it to another part of the exhibition hall, defecating on it and leaving it to be discovered by the participants of Global Black Pride," she added.
Willis said she hopes Drabic, who is from Pennsylvania, turns himself in.
The DA's office said the event coordinator estimated the damage to cost between $8,000 to $10,000. Her announcement of the indictment comes as the city prepares for Atlanta Pride Festival 2024. The event is the country’s oldest and biggest LGBTQIA+ festival. Pride typically brings about 300,000 people out each year.
“Today marks the beginning of Atlanta Pride weekend,” she said. “As district attorney, I want to send a clear message. If anything is done to violate the people that come here to celebrate rights, we’re going to use the full extent of law to prosecute them. We welcome this community into our city.”
Willis and Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum want to make it clear that everyone is welcome in the city. The chief said during the news conference that his department is stepping up patrols and partnering with the sheriff's office to be in areas where people are gathering.
"We will be in Piedmont Park around all the venues," he said, adding that they are working with federal partners to be prepared if any threats arise.
APD, according to Schierbaum, has heightened security for any large event in the city.
"Anytime we see something like this its always make us know those extra preparations are necessary. "Schierbaum said. "That the extra officers you see on the street, the extra intelligence resources that are deployed to look for someone that may be trying to cause harm is what we do anyway."