Flag Vandal Captured in Ocala

CHRISTOPHER LLOYD
Staff Writer clloyd@starbanner.com
http://www.ocalastarbanner.com

OCALA — One of the leaders of a group demanding removal of the Confederate flag from in front of Marion County government offices was arrested for allegedly vandalizing the flag early Tuesday morning.

Rexford Weng, 78, of Ocala, was charged with two counts of criminal mischief for allegedly taking down the flag and
shredding it on two occasions.

Ocala police have a videotape they say shows Weng cutting up the flag between 5:30 and 7 a.m. on the Fourth of July.

"Right after the first incident we had set up video surveillance," Cpl. Angie Scroble said.

"(The tape) showed Mr. Weng walking up to the pole, cutting the rope and slashing a flag."

Weng is treasurer of Concerned Citizens of Marion County, one of two groups that has demanded the Confederate flag be removed from government property, claiming it is offensive to African-Americans and other minorities.

The group, led by the Rev. James Sykes, made a second
appeal to county commissioners last week and was again
rebuffed.

Two days after the commission first turned the group down in May, the flag was removed and set on fire by unknown
culprits.

On May 26, county employees noticed a heavyset older male with dark-framed glasses walking away from the flagpole, which had been cut down and the flag cut up.

That matches the general description of Weng.

Employees also described the man as fleeing in a small red car. State records show Weng has a red 1995 Geo Metro
registered in his name.

Scroble said that after watching the videotape, Weng
confessed to the vandalism.

He was being held at the Marion County Jail under $1,000
bond at press time.

On May 1, Weng stormed out of a meeting of the Marion
County Historical Commission, which controls the flag display, saying, "That flag is coming down, one way or the other!"

Sykes, contacted late Tuesday night, said he was "shocked"
by Weng's arrest.

Both Sykes and the leader of the other group petitioning for
removal of the flag, the Marion County Voters League, had
previously disavowed any involvement in the incidents.

"I'm disappointed if that is Rex," Sykes said. "We cannot
condone anybody, or would put up with anybody in our
organization, doing any vandalism."

Sykes said he wanted to talk to Weng and police before
taking any action but said if the allegations are true the board of Concerned Citizens would "deal with it in an appropriate manner."

"I know Rex was very upset. He kept telling me he was very upset about the flag flying, but he never mentioned he was going to do anything."

Christopher Lloyd covers county government and can be
reached at clloyd@starbanner.com or 867-4119.