WASHINGTONVILLE, NY—The New Windsor man charged with cutting down the flagpole at the Washingtonville 9/11 memorial was a no-show in Washingtonville Village Court Wednesday afternoon, but retirees and members of the FDNY and the Nam Knights turned out in a show of solidarity for the five fallen firefighters and other 9/11 victims the memorial honors.
They and their motorcycles lined the private street between Village Hall and a medical office, in a silent demonstration. Across East Main Street, Washingtonville and Salisbury Mills volunteer firefighters gathered in solidarity at the Monell firehouse. Washingtonville firefighters displayed their ceremonial 28-by-30-foot American flag from a ladder truck.
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“It’s just to show support for the five,” said retired FDNY Battalion Chief John Bruckner.
Andre Narbonne, 40, faces felony criminal mischief charges in Washingtonville, where officials say that on July 8 he cut down the flagpole at the monument off Ahern Drive, writing “God does not want the U.S. bent on a virus! Don't be idolatrous” on the base. He’s also charged with damaging a nearly church-owned sign. Narbonne has also been charged with felony and misdemeanor criminal mischief in New Windsor with cutting down flagpoles on July 9 at a strip mall on Windsor Highway and on July 10 at a cemetery on Erie Avenue.
Narbonne, who is free without bail, did not make his Tuesday night court date, scheduled as his first appearance with a lawyer, in New Windsor, prosecutors said. The New Windsor Town Court said no warrant had been issued as of Thursday morning.
On Wednesday, he was due in Washingtonville’s court for the same purpose, and was a no-show. Town Justice Stephen Smith put on the court record what transpired: Narbonne had called the court earlier in the day asking for a virtual appearance. Smith said he informed the clerk that he could not do that on such short notice. However, Smith said, Narbonne did not call back for an answer to his request.
The prosecutor, who was appearing via videoconference, requested that the judge issue a warrant after the statutory 48-hour waiting period ends. Smith said he’ll do so.
Smith noted that Narbonne has also asked to represent himself, a request the justice had planned to question him on to ensure he’s capable of doing so.
“If he shows up,” Smith said on the court record, “we’ll proceed on that.”
Outside before court began, Washingtonville fire Chief Gary Hearn said the flag is a symbol of the Constitution, which gives people the freedom to do something like cut down a flag.
However, Hearn said, “he cut it down on what we consider sacred ground. He disrespected the five guys who died.”
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