A Seattle man was arrested and could face 10 years in prison for doing burnouts on an LGBTQ+ mural.
Ivan Barzul, 21, was taken into custody Tuesday at his home in Renton after being accused of vandalizing the City’s LGBTQ+ Pride art piece, and nearly hitting pedestrians and cars as he did so.
He’s accused of committing the crime on three different occasions – July 14, September 7 and September 15 – at the mural, according to the Bellevue Police Department.
Barzul was arrested for three counts of malicious mischief (first-degree vandalism), and three counts of reckless driving.
He could face 10 years in prison for the malicious mischief charges, and possibly another year behind bars for the reckless driving charges.
Ivan Barzul, 21, was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly performing burnouts in his gray BMW sedan on the City’s LGBTQ+ Pride art piece in Seattle. (Pictured: Barzul caught on street footage)
Police said Barzul allegedly performed the dangerous stunts on three separate occasions, with one happening during the day with pedestrians and other drivers nearby
During one of the burnouts, Barzul, who drives a gray BMW sedan ‘without a license plate,’ allegedly performed the dangerous stunt at the three-way intersection during the day, ‘threatening the safety of other residents,’ police said.
In July, Barzul was caught on camera allegedly conducting a ‘720-degree burnout in a counterclockwise motion over the Pride art piece,’ police said.
When he finished, he allegedly sped away, leaving about $3,2000 in damage to the piece, the City of Bellevue’s Transportation Department estimated.
During the first September incident, Barzul allegedly conducted another burnout across the mural.
‘For this incident, the suspect had his windows rolled down and completed the burnout in the middle of traffic and while pedestrians were crossing the crosswalk,’ police detailed.
For that, he caused an estimated $5,000 in damages to the piece of art.
Around 8pm on September 15, the suspect allegedly completed another 720-degree turn in his sedan, causing more than $5,300 in damages.
Officers said witnesses called into the Crime Stoppers tip line and identified Barzul as the suspect
Officers said witnesses called into the Crime Stoppers tip line and identified Barzul as the suspect.
‘Officers often preach ‘”see something, say something”. It’s without a doubt Bellevue residents helped law enforcement hold this individual accountable,’ Bellevue Police Department Chief Wendell Shirley said.
‘This arrest is a testament to the teamwork a community and law enforcement can achieve together,’ she added.
This is not Barzul’s first run-in with the law, as he previously received multiple traffic violations in nearby areas, Fox 13 reported.
‘He does have a criminal history of reckless driving,’ Major Ellen Inman with the Bellevue Police Department said.
‘The Bellevue Police Department wants to extend their thanks to the community for partnering with us to help us identify this subject and bring him into custody.’
Investigators said there is no evidence to indicate this was a hate crime.
Barzul has since been booked into King County Jail.
