Employee of a car glass shop arrested for vandalism at the rainbow zebra crossing

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) recently arrested a suspect who allegedly defaced a rainbow crosswalk with windshield primer. According to MNPD officials, the suspect was working for a local auto glass shop during the crime.

Surveillance footage captured the vandalism on July 2. Image: Metro Nashville Police Department.

Isaiah D. Tester, 24, is charged with vandalism of a rainbow crosswalk that was erected on Nashville streets as public art for Pride Month. The incident occurred on July 2, when surveillance footage showed a person pouring a black liquid onto the crosswalk while driving over it in a white Ford van.

The MNPD reports that the van Tester was driving belonged to an unnamed “vehicle window replacement company” from which he was eventually fired.

MNPD officials say he allegedly confessed to a co-worker when the officer confronted him about the incident. Tester later confessed to detectives. MNPD officials thank Nashville Crime Stoppers for their help in locating the suspect.

WKRN reports that some city officials issued a statement thanking the public and the MNDP for the arrest of the suspect.

“We are deeply grateful for the cooperation that led to the arrest of the suspect,” said Emily Benedict, chair of the Nashville Metro Council’s LGBTQ Caucus. “We want to assure the public that we are committed to protecting all aspects of the city’s beautification efforts and will not tolerate any form of hate toward Nashville’s diverse and vibrant community,”

Tester, who lives in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was taken into custody at the nearest jail on August 20. The Tennessean reported that his bail was set at $10,000 and he will have his first court appearance on September 13.

A spokesperson for the MNPD press office stated that he had no knowledge of Tester’s workplace when contacted by glassBYTEs.AGRR.

Watch surveillance footage of the incident below.