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WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 21: The U.S. Park Police guard the Washington Monument after a vandal wrote graffiti and threw red paint against the base of the structure on September 21, 2022 in Washington, DC. A spokesman for the U.S. Park Police said one man was in custody in connection to the incident. -
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 21: The U.S. Park Police guard the Washington Monument after a vandal wrote graffiti and threw red paint against the base of the structure on September 21, 2022 in Washington, DC. A spokesman for the U.S. Park Police said one man was in custody in connection to the incident. (Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images) -
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 21: A U.S. Park Service employee uses cleaning solvent to remove graffiti on the Washington Monument on September 21, 2022 in Washington, DC. Overnight, a vandal wrote graffiti and threw red paint onto the the base of the Monument. A spokesman for the U.S. Park Police said one man was in custody in connection to the incident. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) -
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 21: A U.S. Park Service employee uses cleaning solvent to remove graffiti on the Washington Monument on September 21, 2022 in Washington, DC. Overnight, a vandal wrote graffiti and threw red paint onto the the base of the Monument. A spokesman for the U.S. Park Police said one man was in custody in connection to the incident. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) -
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 21: A U.S. Park Service employees remove graffiti on the Washington Monument on September 21, 2022 in Washington, DC. Overnight, a vandal wrote graffiti and threw red paint onto the the base of the Monument. A spokesman for the U.S. Park Police said one man was in custody in connection to the incident. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) -
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 21: A U.S. Park Service employee uses cleaning solvent to remove graffiti on the Washington Monument on September 21, 2022 in Washington, DC. Overnight, a vandal wrote graffiti and threw red paint onto the the base of the Monument. A spokesman for the U.S. Park Police said one man was in custody in connection to the incident. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) -
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 21: A U.S. Park Service employee removes graffiti on the Washington Monument on September 21, 2022 in Washington, DC. Overnight, a vandal wrote graffiti and threw red paint onto the the base of the Monument. A spokesman for the U.S. Park Police said one man was in custody in connection to the incident. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A Bloomington man was arrested in the nation’s capital after police say he painted a profane message on the Washington Monument.
According to the United States Park Police, 44-year-old Shaun Ray Deaton vandalized the base of the monument with red paint.
Photos showed a red splash of paint along with a message. USPP said Deaton was arrested around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. He was charged with trespassing, tampering and vandalism.
“This is an initial criminal charge and, as the investigation continues, there may be additional charges,” according to a statement from the National Park Service.
Conservators have already started the process of removing the paint. According to a tweet from the National Mall, the base of the monument will be treated with several applications of cleaning products.
Another tweet said a “week of sunlight will also help return the monument to its usual impressive state.”
The Washington Monument was temporarily closed after the incident.
