News Release

USPP Arrests Vandal at Lincoln Memorial

Date: September 19, 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Shortly after 1 p.m. on Monday, September 18, 2017 a United States Park Police officer observed a man using a penny to engrave the letters “HYPT MAEK” into the fifth pillar on the north side of the Lincoln Memorial. The man, identified as Nurtilek BAKIROV, 21, of the Kyrgyz Republic was arrested and charged with malicious destruction of property (22 DC Code Section 33). The maximum fine for this charge could be up 10 years in prison and a fined up to $25,000.

National Park Service conservation team is in the process of determining the best way to address the damage to the nearly 100 year old structure. The Lincoln Memorial was opened to the public in 1922. 

BAKIROV will be presented in D.C. Superior Court today.