Tribal police seek suspect who raised swastika flag

Tribal police are looking for the bicyclist who raised a “racist and demeaning flag” in front of the Saginaw Chippewa Public Safety building on Tuesday.

A suspect on a bicycle raised a flag with a swastika on it and damaged the mechanism so that it could not be easily removed, Tribal officials said in a Facebook post Wednesday morning.

“This was an aggressive act towards our community and will not be tolerated,” they said.

“A suspect pulled up to the flag pole, in front of the public safety buildings on a pedal bike, raising a racist and demeaning flag while going on to destroy the mechanism on the pole to ensure the flag could not easily be taken down.”

Officials described the act as “not only viewed as a message of hate but also a crime of destruction of property.”

The flagpole is in front of the building that houses the Tribe’s court and police department on the southwest corner of Broadway and Leaton roads, about three miles east of Mt. Pleasant.

Tribal police are investigating.

Anyone with information or tips is asked to contact Tribal Police at 989-7754700.

“We remain committed to keeping our community safe and free from bigotry and hate,” the post concluded.