Man high on drugs goes on vandalism spree inside Georgia Capitol, police say
ATLANTA GA October 3 2019 – Police say a man who was high on cocaine went on a vandalism spree inside Georgia’s Capitol building Monday night, breaking windows, lamps and furniture.
Photos of the scene show shattered glass, torn paintings and damaged office equipment.
Police said Joshua Lemhouse broke in around 11:20 p.m.
Channel 2’s Tom Regan learned that before Lemhouse first broke the mirrors on a patrol car outside and then smashed through a glass door to enter the building’s second floor.
Police said Lemhouse then grabbed a flagpole and smashed 16 light fixtures, damaged two portraits of past governors, hit a security guard with the flagpole and ran up to the third floor.
There, he kicked in the door of the secretary of state’s office, smashed a window and flipped over cabinets and furniture, police say.
An officer confronted him and tased Lemhouse, but it had no immediate effect.
Police say he knocked out the glass of another door and ran out into the street where officers were finally able to chase him down and arrest him.
Workers spent the morning cleaning up the broken glass and other damage.
Regan talked to Michael Silverman, who works near the Capitol and was shocked to hear about the incident.
“I’ve been working down here about five years now, and that’s the first time I’ve heard about it, so it’s crazy,” Silverman said.
The Capitol was able to open to the public on schedule Monday morning.
Police haven’t given a dollar estimate on the damage.
