Man Accused Of Burning Flags, Veteran Grave Markers At Cemetery

A man is accused of burning American flags and veteran grave markers at a Bristol Township cemetery earlier this month before being detained at Taser-point.

Troy Moore, 30, who is homeless and formerly of Bensalem Township, was detained by Bristol Township police on Tuesday, June 2, at the Emilie United Baptist Church on New Falls Road in the township’s Levittown section.

Officers responded to the church at 11:01 p.m. for reports of a man burning items on graves.

At the scene, an officer found a small fire burning under a tree near the rear of the cemetery, police said.

The fire, which was extinguishing by firefighters, involved several items, including flags and veteran grave markers, police said.

According to authorities, an officer searching the area spotted Moore in another section of the cemetery holding flags and other items.

Police said Moore refused commands to drop the items and approach the officer, which led to the officer drawing a Taser before detaining the 30-year-old man.

Moore appeared intoxicated, was slurring his words, and told an officer he was “just having fun” while speaking about his family and arguments, police said.

Moore was held at the police station for eight hours to sober up, authorities said.

The damage to the cemetery is estimated at $750.

Moore is charged with institutional vandalism to a place of worship, criminal mischief, mutilating a flag, disorderly conduct, and public drunkenness. He has been charged but has not yet been preliminarily arraigned.

At the time of his arrest, Moore was out on bail for a separate defiant trespassing case out of Penndel Borough. He is scheduled to appear in court next week on that case.

Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.