Columbia County, FL — A Lake City man has been arrested after deputies say he stole multiple U.S. flags from local businesses over the past several weeks.
According to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies met with the owners of Baker’s Communications on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, after the business reported their U.S. flag and the cable from the flagpole had been stolen.
The owner, Douglas Baker, told deputies he discovered the theft when he arrived at work around 8:00 a.m. A review of security camera footage showed an unknown man on a bicycle entering the property around 3:05 a.m., cutting the cable from the flagpole and removing both the flag and cable. The suspect was seen leaving the area on the bicycle around 3:10 a.m., heading south.
The following morning, March 5, around 2:30 a.m., Corporal Douglas was conducting business checks along SW Main Boulevard due to the reported theft. While near SW Main Boulevard and SW Coronado Street, he spotted a man on a bicycle who matched the description from the surveillance video.
Deputies made contact with the bicyclist, identified as 62-year-old John Allen Bethune. After being read his rights, Bethune admitted he had taken the flag from Baker’s Communications. A U.S. flag was also found in bags attached to his bicycle.
Bethune was arrested for felony petit theft due to prior convictions for similar offenses in Santa Rosa County.
When deputies attempted to return the recovered flag, the owner of Baker’s Communications informed them it was not their flag because it had a different colored cable. Investigators then obtained a search warrant for Bethune’s apartment.
During the search, deputies discovered several additional U.S. flags and cables. The flag belonging to Baker’s Communications was eventually located and returned. The flag Bethune had on his bicycle was identified as belonging to another business located north of Baker’s Communications, which had reported its flag stolen on February 22, 2026, to the Lake City Police Department. That flag was also returned, along with a third flag reported stolen after the Baker’s Communications incident.
Authorities say one additional flag recovered during the search has not yet been matched with a victim.
Bethune was booked into the Columbia County Detention Facility on a charge of felony petit theft with two or more prior convictions. He is currently being held on a $7,000 bond.
The investigation remains ongoing as deputies work to identify the owner of the remaining recovered flag.
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