In Virginia over the weekend, a drunken man was arrested after allegedly going on a “homophobic rant” at a popular bar where he saw Pride flags displayed.
Police arrested Justin Wayne Hendricks on misdemeanor charges of being “drunk in public” and providing false identification to a police officer. He also earned a felony count of assault on a police officer.
Related
Anti-LGBTQ+ student thought he’d get away with urinating on a family’s Pride flag. He got busted.
After he finished, he flipped off the house and said, “F**k the gays.”
Vienna Police spokesperson Juan Vazquez said prosecutors with the office of the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney would decide if a hate crime charge would be filed in the case.
Stay connected to your community
Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter.
Subscribe to our Newsletter today
The Hawk & Griffin British Pub in Vienna shared details of the incident on social media.
“Last night we had an incident here at the pub when a man came off the street to accost patrons in our beer garden because of our flags displayed for pride month,” the tavern posted on Facebook. “He then spit on our windows and came inside to confront our staff and patrons with homophobic rants.”
“Our manager and staff handled the situation very professionally and police were called to investigate and later arrested a man a couple of blocks away,” the message read.
Vienna Police say Hendricks was also found to be in violation of an outstanding arrest warrant related to a prior charge of failing to register as a sex offender.
He’s currently being held without bond at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. He has no known address.
“On Friday, June 28, around 9:28 p.m. the Vienna Police Department responded to reports of an intoxicated individual threatening customers of the Hawk & Griffin,” said a statement from Vienna Police. “Upon the arrival of the officers, the individual had already left the premises but was promptly located at an address nearby.”
Hendricks was charged with being drunk in public, providing false information about his identity to police, and assault on a police officer along with being served with the outstanding sex offender warrant.
Online records reported by The Washington Blade show Hendricks has at least a dozen or more prior arrests between 2014 and 2023 on charges including public intoxication, trespassing, and failing to register as a sex offender.
“We want to thank the Vienna Police Department for their quick response,” the Hawk & Griffin posted. “We are and will continue to be community focused and we will never stop working to create and maintain a place of inclusion and tolerance.”