Man jailed after flag burning

Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004 | 9:12 a.m.

A man arrested after allegedly yelling and carrying a burning American flag during a weekend ceremony that honored 9/11 victims was scheduled to appear in Las Vegas Municipal Court this morning.

Stephen Drew Hampton has been in the city jail since his Saturday arrest on the misdemeanor charge of disturbing a meeting.

During a Saturday event that was both a dedication of a refurbished Las Vegas fire station and 9/11 memorial ceremony, authorities allege Hampton disrupted the event by yelling and burning a small American flag while Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman was giving a speech.

If convicted of the misdemeanor charge, Hampton could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, Lt. Karen Coyne, spokeswoman for the Las Vegas Department of Detention and Enforcement, said.

Goodman said the man certainly caused a disturbance.

"I was giving a speech and he got up and was screaming something and carrying something. I referred to him as a jerk," Goodman said.

Clark County Undersheriff Doug Gillespie and another officer took the man to the side and the city marshals arrested him. Gillespie said he left the decision of whether to arrest the man up to the marshals, who have arresting power on city-owned property.

Gillespie said the man was disruptive, and he thought there was a "strong chance" he would be arrested.

"I don't know how many people noticed the little flag he had," Gillespie said.

Gary Peck, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada said that while he did not know the details of the arrest, he was interested in speaking to Hampton to see if he was wrongly punished for expressing himself.