Capitol police on Tuesday released surveillance video of a man allegedly breaking into the Gold Dome last week and causing extensive damage as he ran from floor to floor.
In the video obtained by Channel 2 Action News, Joshua Lemhouse appears to kick and hit a police cruiser parked outside the Captiol before entering the 130-year-old building and beginning his alleged vandalism spree.
RELATED: Police: Man on cocaine breaks into Georgia Capitol, damages property
Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office
Credit: Fulton County Sheriff's Office
Lemhouse, who police said tested positive for cocaine, is accused of grabbing an American flag at the entrance that he used to smash lights, windows and two paintings of former governors.
In the video, a man can be seen striking one of the paintings on display. Police said he also allegedly used the flag pole to strike a security guard who heard the commotion and ran upstairs to confront him.
The officer was able to get Lemhouse on the ground temporarily, but the man hopped up and ran to the third floor of the Capitol, where he kicked in the secretary of the senate’s office door and continued his rampage, smashing glass windows and toppling filing cabinets, authorities said.
At one point, police used a Taser on the man, but it wasn’t enough to subdue him.
The man ran back down to the Capitol’s second floor and then out onto Washington Street, where police took him into custody.
In all, 15 wall lamps were damaged as well as two portraits of 1950s Georgia governors Marvin Griffin and Ernest Vandiver, police said.
Lemhouse was charged with criminal trespass, second-degree criminal damage to property, interference with government property, obstruction of a law enforcement officer and two counts of simple battery, Fulton County jail records show.
He was denied bond Wednesday but is set to appear in court again Oct. 16.
Authorities have not said how much the damage to the Capitol could cost to repair.
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