Flag at local school hanging upside down outrages residents

Coatesville, Pa. (WTXF) - Sending a political message or just plain vandalism? The Chester County School District says someone was using a school's flagpole to send a distressing signal. The American flag was flying upside down. It has the attention of police.

"It offended me very deeply."

Army veteran James Jackson says he was stunned when he saw the American flag flying upside down outside of Scott Middle School in Coatesville. It's his former school.

"It hurt me as a veteran seeing the flag upside down knowing that means the state of distress," he told FOX 29.

Jackson took pictures and sent them to FOX 29. Just minutes after we started making phone calls a custodian was seen lowering the upside down flag.

The school districts tells us someone broke into the flags lockbox over the weekend but no one even noticed until we brought it to their attention. School administrators are now looking at two surveillance cameras that may have captured whoever did this.

According to the US flag code, the American flag should only be flown upside down in instances of "extreme danger to life or property". It's also used as a sign of protest.

Jackson who served for this flag says it's the sad sign of the times.