Federal authorities have detained Michael Tate Reed Jr. on Friday after allegedly making threats to kill President Barack Obama and smashing the Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the Oklahoma Capitol with his car. The man told the officials who were investigating the incident that he was compelled by Satan to destroy the monument.
Twenty-nine yr. old Reed who came from Roland was later taken to the Oklahoma County mental facility as a response to the emergency order of detention and for mental evaluation. The suspect also told the Secret Service officials that he has spit on a photo of Obama and that he has urinated on the Ten Commandments monument prior to hitting it with his car.
Crystal Tucker, Reed's mother, said that it was unlikely for his son to do such an act.
"He would never deface something that meant so much to him. He takes the Ten Commandments very seriously," said Tucker.
The man told the investigators that he is bipolar and hasn't been able to take medication for quite some time. According to his mother, Reed has been struggling against breakdowns for two years.
"It all started after an injury at work four years ago," said Tucker. "Now, when he has these breakdowns, the one thing that is foremost in his mind, his religion, is the thing he takes it out on."
The granite monument, which stands 6 feet tall, was toppled over around 9pm Thursday. It happened despite the fact that there are guards stationed around the clock at the State Capitol. It is unclear if anyone among them saw or heard anything when the incident happened.
The vehicle that was used by Reed to hit the monument was left abandoned at the scene. It was later on towed away by the investigating authorities.
The Ten Commandments monument was erected in 2012 and stands around 10 feet away from the Capitol's north-east side. Its placement had been authorized in 2009 by the State lawmakers after being funded with almost $10,000 by state Rep. Mike Ritze and his family.
"We consider this an act of violence against the state of Oklahoma," said Republican state Rep. Mike Ritze. "We are obviously shocked and dismayed, but we're not discouraged." He vowed that he will have the monument rebuilt.
Gov. Mary Fallin described the incident as an 'appalling' act of vandalism. She has promised to help in restoring the monument and raise private funds.
"It is appalling that this monument was attacked," tweeted Fallin.
