Ark. man smashes 10 Commandments, again
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A man yelled “Freedom!” as he crashed his vehicle into Arkansas’ new Ten Commandments monument early yesterday, nearly three years after he was arrested in the destruction of Oklahoma’s monument at its state Capitol.
The privately funded Arkansas monument had been in place outside the state Capitol in Little Rock for less than 24 hours before it was knocked from its plinth and smashed to pieces.
Michael Tate Reed, 32, of Van Buren, Ark., is charged with defacing objects of public interest, criminal trespass and first-degree criminal mischief. An arrest report lists his occupation as “unemployed/ disabled.”
Arkansas Secretary of State’s Office spokesman Chris Powell said officials believe a Facebook Live video posted on a Michael Reed’s Facebook account that depicted the destruction is authentic.
In the video, the sky is dark and the Arkansas Capitol’s dome is visible. Music is heard followed by a female voice, likely on the radio, saying, “Where do you go when you’re faced with adversity and trials and challenges?” The driver is then heard growling, “Oh my goodness. Freedom!” before accelerating into the monument. The vehicle’s speedometer is last shown at 21 mph and then a collision can be heard.
Arkansas’ monument fell from its plinth and broke into multiple pieces as it hit the ground. The debris had been cleaned up by midmorning yesterday.
Oklahoma County Sheriff ’s spokesman Mark Opgrande said Reed was arrested in October 2014 in the destruction of the Oklahoma Capitol’s Ten Commandments monument. Opgrande confirmed the suspect arrested yesterday was the same man.
In a 2015 email to the Tulsa World, Reed apologized for wrecking Oklahoma’s monument, saying he has mental health issues.
“I am so sorry that this all happening and wished I could take it all back,” Reed said.
Arkansas’ granite monument weighed 3 tons. It was installed Tuesday morning on the Capitol’s lawn.