Lynch 'encouraged' to destroy Mexican flag

OF RIPPING DOWN A MEXICAN FLAG AT U- N-M MIGHT HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED TO DO IT. AND WE'RE HEARING...  More »

OF RIPPING DOWN A MEXICAN FLAG AT U- N-M MIGHT HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED TO DO IT. AND WE'RE HEARING 'WHY' POLICE SAY HE WENT AFTER THAT FLAG. PETER LYNCH IS NOW ON TRIAL ...CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. WHEN VETERAN PETER LYNCH SAW A MEXICAN FLAG FLYING AT U-N-M WITHOUT AN AMERICAN FLAG NEARBY HE DEMANDED SOME ANSWERS. 'He had been to the dean of students office earlier he wasn't satisfied with their answer they'd investigate it he wanted more immediate action.'SO ... POLICE SAY LYNCH THEN CALLED THE OFFICE OF VETERAN AFFAIRS. 'And again told them they'd look into it but weren't able to immediately give him an answer.' POLICE THEN SAY LYNCH WENT BACK TO THE POLE TO SEE IF ANYONE WOULD DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE FLAG. NO RESPONSE ...SO HE DID SOMETHING...AS OTHERS STARTED TO GATHER. 'At least one person encouraged him by saying yea brother go ahead. And thank you and some other things he heard in the background. He stated he got emotional about that, along with the people encouraging him and took the flag in his hand and ripped it in half.' UNM POLICE SAY LYNCH THEN TOOK THE FLAG TO THE CAMPUS AIR FORCE ROTC OFFICE. 'Because he was a former Air Force veteran and thought they'd be sympathetic to his cause.' LYNCH EXPLAINED TO POLICE WHY HE DIDN'T LIKE THE MEXICAN FLAG FLYING WITHOUT AN AMERICAN FLAG. 'And that it could be perceived as a sign of war or that the territory had been taken over by another country and he felt it was his obligation to remove that flag and enforce that code.' IN THE END POLICE SAY LYNCH TOLD THEM HIS EMOTIONS TOOK OVER. 'He knew it was wrong he shouldn't have done it but he got caught up in the emotion of the moment and thought was appropriate at the time.'THE TRIAL WILL CONTINUE TOMORROW MORNING AT ELEVEN. IF CONVICTED -- LYNCH COULD FACE UP TO SIX MONTHS IN JAIL.  « Less