Authorities arrest purported BLM leader, former professor after discovering Abraham Lincoln statue smeared in feces

Authorities arrested a 37-year-old man in connection with a February act of vandalism against a statue of former President Abraham Lincoln.

Police discovered the Lincoln statue in a Boise, Idaho, public park, smeared with feces, paint, and more.

What are the details?

According to the Idaho Statesman, police arrested Terry Wilson on Tuesday night after "physical and electronic evidence" placed him at the scene of February's crime.

In February, police arrived at Julia Davis Park, where they found a bronze Lincoln statue — known as the "Seated Lincoln" — had been smeared with feces, paint, and more.

The statue was not permanently damaged by the vandalism.

Wilson reportedly tried to flee on Tuesday when officers arrived to arrest him.

"Officers chased after Wilson and were able to stop him and take him into custody, at which time Wilson was found to be in possession of a firearm, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia," a news release from the police said. "Wilson was taken to the hospital and was medically cleared before being booked into the Ada County Jail."

Authorities charged him with several misdemeanor counts, including injuring monuments, ornaments, and public improvements; resisting and obstructing officers; and possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. According to KTVB-TV, Wilson was also found with a firearm at the time of his arrest.

According to a Thursday report from The Daily Wire, "Wilson has identified himself online as an associate professor at Boise State University and has been described by the press as the Boise Black Lives Matter chapter spokesman."

The school, however, told the outlet that Wilson — who is also a Black Lives Matter activist, according to the outlet — is neither a current professor or student at the university.

In 2020, the Idaho Statesman reported that a man with the same name was also the Boise Black Lives Matter chapter spokesperson.

What else?

In February, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean condemned the vandalism and promised that those involved would be "held accountable."

"At a time when our democracy is fragile, this is particularly disturbing as President Lincoln sought to keep our fractured nation together and to address the scourge of slavery — losing his life for it," McLean said at the time.

Additional arrests are expected, according to the Statesman.