Update: Man Charged with Damaging Idaho Liberty Bell at Capitol

Two weeks ago a man damaged the replica Liberty Bell at Idaho’s capitol.

The attack on the bell is just one of many statutes and replicas that have been attacked in recent weeks.

Vandals and rioters across the country have torn down statues of Confederate generals, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Christopher Columbus, and Frederick Douglas. Idaho for the most part has seen less of these attacks on public property in comparison to other states.

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However, the Idaho State Police have cited Tim Jay Jones for the damage to the Liberty Bell replica in Idaho.

The ISP released a statement on the citation:

For Immediate Release: 6/25/2020 4:30 p.m.
Please direct questions to the ISP Media Affairs Office isppio@isp.idaho.gov

Idaho State Troopers have charged a Boise man with vandalizing the replica of the Liberty Bell that sits on the Statehouse steps. The man is accused of scratching an expletive into the heavy metal bell over the weekend.

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Cited: Tim Jay Jones, 64, Boise

Charge: Malicious Injury to Property (m)

The damage to the bell was reported last Saturday evening, June 20. As a result of evidence gathered during the investigation, a trooper issued the misdemeanor citation to Jones after locating him at his Boise home this afternoon. The summons issued to the suspect means he is required to appear in court on the charge at a later date.

Troopers would like to thank members of the public who came forward with information about the crime. Investigating troopers say citizens tips were every helpful in not only furthering the investigation, but also in immediately reporting the crime that allowed state workers to quickly repair the damage done.

It is unclear what Jones’s motivation was for the attack and may not be known until he appears in court for the crime.