NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) -- More than a month after "black paint-like liquid" was poured over the new rainbow crosswalk in East Nashville, authorities announced a man has been charged in connection with the incident.
The rainbow crosswalk is located at the intersection of 14th Street and Woodland Street outside of the Lipstick Lounge, a lesbian-owned bar. It was created at the end of Pride Month as a celebration of the city’s LGBTQ+ community.
The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) said surveillance footage showed a man in a white Ford van pouring black liquid out of the driver’s side window onto the crosswalk on July 2.
Authorities said a tip to Nashville Crime Stoppers led to the identification of 24-year-old Isaiah D. Tester as the suspect in the case.
On Tuesday, Aug. 20, detectives from the East Precinct took Tester into custody in Murfreesboro, where he lives, and booked him on a charge of vandalizing government property, according to officials.
Police said the investigation shows that Tester worked for a vehicle window replacement company, was driving one of his employer’s vans on July 2, and is believed to have used windshield prep primer to deface the crosswalk.
Tester allegedly admitted to the vandalism after being confronted by a coworker. He was later fired from the company, MNPD reported.
In addition, authorities said Tester admitted to the vandalism in an interview with detectives Tuesday afternoon.
Metro Councilwoman Emily Benedict, chair of the council's LGBTQ Caucus, expressed her gratitude for the collective efforts of the community and the East Precinct officers in supporting MNPD's investigation.
"We are deeply appreciative of the collaboration that led to the apprehension of the suspect. We want to assure the public that we are committed to safeguarding every aspect of the city’s beautification efforts and will not tolerate any form of hatred towards Nashville’s diverse and vibrant community," Benedict said in a statement shared by the LGBTQ Caucus.
This news comes after about 50 people came out to repaint the rainbow crosswalk -- which was made possible, in part, through the Nashville Department of Transportation’s Tactical Urbanism Program -- on July 13.