A California woman was arrested on Thursday after allegedly removing an American flag at Hart Park in Bakersfield and replacing it with a Mexican flag. Authorities identified the suspect as 24-year-old Crystal Aguilar, who reportedly cut the chain securing the flagpole, discarded the U.S. flag in the mud, and raised the Mexican flag in its place.
Flag Replacement Sparks Arrest
Law enforcement responded to the incident around 9:36 a.m. after receiving multiple reports of a disturbance at the park entrance. Upon arrival, park rangers found Aguilar’s white sedan stuck in the muddy grass near the flagpole. When officers approached, they discovered she had already hoisted the Mexican flag.
WATCH THE VIRAL VIDEO:
JUST IN: A woman was arrested for allegedly removing a U.S. flag, throwing it on the ground in the mud, and raising the Mexican flag in its place at Hart Park in Bakersfield, California.
The suspect, 24-year-old Crystal Aguilar, lost her mind and resisted arrest when officers… pic.twitter.com/QafpMRvNAE
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) February 7, 2025
As park rangers attempted to detain her, Aguilar allegedly resisted arrest and made multiple verbal threats against the officers and their families. A video shared by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office on YouTube shows her shouting, “You’re not going to tell me what to do, this is Mexican land, mother******.”
Charges and Legal Proceedings
Aguilar was taken into custody and booked at Lerdo Jail on several charges, including:
- PC 69 – Threatening a police officer
- PC 594 – Vandalism
- PC 148 – Resisting arrest, trespassing, and marijuana possession
She is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
Activist with a Controversial Past
According to local reports, Aguilar is a known immigrant rights activist in Kern County. She has previously protested against ICE raids, citing personal experiences with deportation. Aguilar has publicly claimed that her Mexican parents were deported when she was a child, influencing her activism.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident, while Aguilar remains in custody awaiting trial.
