CINCINNATI — One man has been arrested in connection with a string of fires targeting pride flags displayed outside homes in the Northside and Clifton neighborhoods.
The Cincinnati Fire Department said 52-year-old Thomas Niehaus has been arrested and currently faces four counts of aggravated arson, a felony. Additional charges are also possible.
"Targeting homes in this manner not only destroys property but also endangers lives," CFD said in a release. "Thanks to the vigilance of residents and community partners, and swift work by the CFD-FIU, this individual is now in custody."
One video released by CFD Wednesday night showed a man walking up to a home before setting fire to a flag displayed outside. What was on the flag is unclear due to the black-and-white quality of the photo.
"It's sad to see someone coming here," Nathan Kueterman, a Northside resident, said. "It feels like an attack a little bit."
Residents in the area claim the video shows the suspect setting an LGBTQ+ flag on fire. In the surveillance video shared with WCPO, the suspect shouts a homophobic slur and expresses hope that the house would burn down.
"I hope it burns your f—king house down," the person can be heard saying before they say a homophobic slur.
Court documents say authorities were able to find Niehaus as a result of the security camera footage and "Red Bike information."
In court on Friday, a judge ordered Niehaus be held on a $400,000 bond. Prosecutors said each of the four aggravated arson charges are tied to four separate homes that were allegedly targeted by Niehaus.
As he was taken out of the arraignment, Niehaus quickly made a comment that he was "fighting for the children." The judge immediately ordered Niehaus be brought back in to the court room, asking if Niehaus had anything to say to him.
After his attorney quickly whispered something to Niehaus, he stopped speaking and apologized as the judge threatened to hold him in contempt of court.
"Well, there are a lot of things happening every day," Niehaus said, but the judge spoke over him and ordered him back out of the court room.
WATCH: Northside residents react to the news of Niehaus' arrest below:
Fire officials said no one was injured in the fires.
"While the acts of this individual sadden us, the Cincinnati Fire Department would like to acknowledge the quick and responsive work of our Fire Investigative Unit," CFD Chief Frank McKinley said. "This is a testament to their commitment to bring justice to those involved in criminal activities and to provide the highest level of safety to all Cincinnati residents."
The incidents have shaken the Northside community, which is known as a welcoming area for LGBTQ+ residents.
"This is kind of known as the queer neighborhood of Cincinnati," Riley Powell, a transgender man who moved to the area nearly 10 years ago to receive care from Cincinnati Children's, told WCPO. "My dad just moved here, and he's been met with a lot of love. So, it's really shocking and disappointing to see that happen in Northside."
Powell believes the charges should reflect the targeted nature of the crimes.
"I wish that they would charge it as a hate crime. It would set a strong precedent to people to know that this kind of action is not going to be tolerated and that they will be met with justice," Powell said.
Context of alleged anti-LGBTQ+ attacks
According to data collected by GLAAD, an organization that advocates for the LGBTQ+ community in Ohio, there have been 100 targeted attacks against this community since 2022. Thirteen of those were reported as "pride symbolism attacks."
Hate crime laws in Ohio at large do not include sexual orientation or gender identity as protected classes, despite federal definitions that recognize these categories.
According to the FBI, a hate crime is a violent or property crime — murder, arson, assault or vandalism — that is motivated at least in part by an offender's bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.
While 46 states and the District of Columbia have hate crime laws, including Ohio, the state's protections remain more limited than federal standards.
