A man has been charged in connection with a burning cross that was spotted in Grant Park last week.
Merlin Lu, 21, of Chicago, was charged with felony counts of damage to property between $500 and $10,000, arson, and two felony counts of a hate crime. He also was hit with four misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct, reckless conduct, damage to property less than $500 and cross burning to intimidate.
Police say Lu was identified as the suspect who committed a hate crime by starting a fire that caused damage to city property in the 600 block of South Columbus Drive on June 9.
Police last week released a surveillance image of a suspect who was spotted fleeing the scene of the burning cross.
Lu is scheduled to appear for a detention hearing on Thursday.
No further information was released.
Suspect in cross burning incident in Grant Park faces hate crime charges
Suspect in cross burning incident in Grant Park faces hate crime charges
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