21-year-old charged with hate crime after cross burning in Grant Park: police

CHICAGO - A 21-year-old man has been charged after burning a cross in Grant Park last week, according to Chicago Police.

Merlin Lu, 21, of Chicago, has been charged with multiple felony counts, including:

• One felony count of criminal damage to state-supported property by fire causing more than $500 but less than $10,000 in damage.
• One felony count of arson involving real or personal property valued at more than $150.
• Two felony counts of committing a hate crime at a park or community center.
• One misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct for breach of the peace.
• One misdemeanor count of reckless conduct.
• One misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property involving less than $500 in damage.
• One misdemeanor count of cross burning with intent to intimidate

Lu was arrested by police on June 15. 

He was identified as the suspect who started a fire in Grant Park, burning a cross, therefore committing a hate crime, in the 1400 block of S. Halsted on June 9.

The backstory:

Police said officers responded to the 600 block of South Columbus Drive around 2:30 p.m. on June 9 after reports of an object on fire.

Video from the scene showed what appeared to be a large burning cross near the intersection of Columbus Drive and Balbo Drive in Grant Park.

The Chicago Fire Department extinguished the blaze and no injuries were reported.

A day later, police released an image of a man that they said was seen fleeing the scene where the cross was found burning and asked for the public's help identifying him.

On Tuesday morning, police confirmed that a person of interest had been taken into custody in connection with the investigation.

What's next:

Lu's next court hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

Crime and Public SafetyChicagoNews