'They’ll never find me as long as I’m smart,' wrote St. Paul man charged in anti-LGBTQ vandalism spree

Prosecutors in St. Paul have charged a 23-year-old local man, George Thomas Floyd, after what they describe as a targeted vandalism campaign this summer. The spree allegedly included the destruction of dozens of LGBTQ “Pride” flags, signs opposing Donald Trump, and Black Lives Matter signs across the Highland Park and Macalester-Groveland neighbourhoods. 

Three counts were filed Wednesday: two felonies for property damage and one count of possessing burglary tools. The complaint notes that Floyd had earlier faced a separate charge this past July for alleged use of burglary tools. 

According to police, the investigation showed that on the morning hours of June 23, 24 and 26, Floyd allegedly entered a “notes” entry listing 69 addresses, six of which later reported damage. He reportedly sent texts to a woman describing the damage, referencing acts such as cutting signs in half and spray-painting the word “groomer” on buildings where Pride flags had flown. 

One incident documented in the complaint: a bookstore window smashed and spray-painted, with location-tagged photos traced to Floyd’s phone. Additionally, on June 6 he is alleged to have approached a Pinehurst Avenue home masked, carrying a large knife, trying to pry open a storm door behind which a sign read “we will not obey.” The homeowner chased him off, eventually leading to Floyd’s arrest on July 3 following a search warrant at his Highland Park residence. 

In message exchanges, Floyd identified himself as “closely aligned with a right-wing libertarian,” and described attending a June 14 “No Kings” protest where he carried a Trump sign. He also wrote disparaging messages about a trans woman at that event. 

Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, under John Choi, said the investigation consumed over 500 hours of police work and signalled it may pursue enhanced sentencing given evidence of bias motivation. “When social or political views … lead to violence or infringe on property rights, it crosses the line,” Choi said.

SOURCE: MPR NEWS