A 43-year-old Haughton man was arrested after he "attacked" the Christmas tree on the first floor of the Bossier Parish Courthouse, sheriff's deputies said Wednesday.
Donald Glen Beckermeyer was being escorted by a deputy from the fifth-floor jail to the first floor to post bond when he suddenly, and without explanation, charged the 7-foot-tall artificial tree, deputies said.
He "basically grabbed the tree, shook it, attempted to pick it up and tried to tear off some limbs," sheriff's spokesman Ed Baswell said. "It caused considerable damage. He never said why he did it."
The act occurred Saturday as Beckermeyer was being taken to post bond on charges of DWI-second offense, reckless operation of a vehicle, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was immediately returned to jail and charged with simple criminal property damage. Beckermeyer has made bond on all the charges and is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 11.
The Bossier Parish Police Jury has paid $156 for a replacement artificial tree for the courthouse in Benton. Plans are to make Beckermeyer reimburse the Police Jury for the cost, Baswell said.
The new tree went up this week. The previous tree, which was decorated in a Victorian theme, had been a Christmas-season fixture at the courthouse for several years.
Beckermeyer's act of vandalism still has parish Administrator Dennis Woodward shaking his head. "It sounds like the guy needs a class in anger management."
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