Brooklyn man pleads guilty to RNC vandalism

Last update: March 27, 2009 - 8:17 PM

A Brooklyn, N.Y., man has pleaded guilty to breaking a Macy's store window during the raucous first day of last year's Republican National Convention in downtown St. Paul.

Glenn D. Dyer, 26, was cheered on by other protesters as he broke the large display window last Sept. 1, and he was arrested a short time after leaving the scene to receive treatment for an injured wrist, according to the felony complaint filed against him in Ramsey County District Court.

Dyer's right wrist was cut when he broke the window, the complaint said.

The Macy's vandalism, and the breaking of nearby police squad-car windows, were among the more dramatic images broadcast and streamed that day.

On Friday, Dyer pleaded guilty as charged to first-degree criminal damage to property, and he is to be sentenced May 28 by District Judge Paulette Flynn.

Paul Gustafson, a spokesman for the county attorney's office, said that there was no plea agreement.

Also Friday, supporters of the so-called "RNC 8," eight people who were charged with conspiracy to riot in the furtherance of terrorism, delivered petitions to County Attorney Susan Gaertner asking her to drop charges against the eight suspects. The petitions were signed by more than 3,000 people, supporters say.

After the visit, Gustafson said: "We thank them for their petitions. The cases remain pending before the court."

ANTHONY LONETREE

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