The group discouraged Pate from enacting his plan, they told police. Pate is facing third-degree theft and malicious mischief charges related to the incident.Īn anonymous person told police Pate had mentioned his plan to steal the Pride flag to a group of people before he did it, according to a police report. Ryan Pate, 19, allegedly stole the flag on June 9 and set it on fire, recording his actions on social media. The teen suspected of stealing a Pride flag from the Central Washington University Student Union and Recreation Center and later burning it told police he stole the flag in retaliation for the earlier theft of his Christian flag from his truck, according to documents obtained by KHQ.
