“White pride” was carved on the ground outside a black-owned gym in Johnson City, Tenn. The local community rallied in support of the business. Following a police investigation, Mahagany Teague, 42, was arrested and charged with vandalism. https://t.co/akvmEpdmZA #HateHoax pic.twitter.com/uHZIfVg1N0— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) March 9, 2020
WCYB5 NBC News, Tennessee local
written by Staff
Tuesday March 3, 2020
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — A woman has been charged with vandalism under $1,000 after authorities say she used a rock to carve "white pride" into the sidewalk at a Johnson City business.
According to the release, 41-year-old Mahagany Teague vandalized the DC Fitness on Bobby Hicks Highway in Johnson City.
Authorities say she was arrested on Tuesday and has been booked into the Washington County Detention Center. She's being held on a $1,000 bond.
The business owner spoke with News 5 on Monday.
"It hit me in the heart more than anything," Derrick Carson said.
Teague is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.
WCYB5 NBC News, Tennessee local
written by Angelique Arintok
Monday March 2, 2020
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WCYB) — Derrick Carson owns and operates a gym, DC Fitness, in Johnson City. He can train as many as 40 people in a day.
Arriving for his usual 5 a.m. call time on Monday, he found a message reading "white pride" etched by the front door.
News 5 asked for Carson's initial reaction. "It hit me in the heart more than anything," he said.
Carson believes it happened early Sunday morning. He received some tips about the incident and is looking through surveillance footage. He has a good idea who is responsible.
"I started to lose some of the anger and some of the hurt, and then it kind of went out the person like 'what would have them out this early in the morning in the cold,' to where they were disheveled enough to want to scribble in front of my door," said Carson.
"I think the support from everybody else made him feel like 'they've got my back, there's no reason to let this get me down or let this to get any of my employees, members, trainers, none of us,'" said Kandra Scott, one of the gym's managers.
Carson also told News 5 several people have reached out to him on Facebook, offering to fix the pavement, "just on acts of generosity and kindness." His daughter also set up a GoFundMe page, and donors are already pitching in.
Carson reported the incident to the Johnson City police late Monday afternoon. Lt. Scotty Carrier said an investigator will soon be assigned to the case.
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