The man only had one remark to make to justify his actions after his identity was made public, when he was seen on camera grinning and urinating, on the memorial for a retired police officer’s 9-year-old kid who had died of brain cancer.
In a now-famous video, Mark Clopp, a retired police officer saw a bearded guy approach the memorial for his dead child, unzip his jeans, and urinate right on the plaque bearing the boy’s name, prior to what he has seen. Mark was perusing social media when he discovered something about the incident that absolutely shocked him.
In Hamilton, New Jersey, Christian Clopp left behind a brief but significant legacy when he passed away at the age of nine from aggressive brain cancer. The modest monument was built in his honor, highlighting the young man’s optimistic outlook despite his incomprehensible hardship. However, not everyone agreed that the late youngster merited such honor.
23-year-old Daniel Flippen laughed and recorded the incident as Bryan Bellace vandalized Christian’s gravestone while also grinning. Despite the fact that both men were detained and charged, Bellace’s horrifying excuse has infuriated people the most, according to WSET.
Bellace claimed that he was inebriated and didn’t really remember the incident when asked why he would have done such a thing, CBS3 reported. He says the incident occurred as a result of his intoxication after drinking beer all day. Flippen was charged with possessing an open container of alcohol in the public park where the memorial is located, while Bellace was charged with disorderly behavior, criminal mischief, and lewdness.
Bellace said, “I really don’t remember doing it, I just remember waking up to the video.”
Bellace apologized to Mark for desecrating his son’s memorial, only to receive an unexpected response from the grieving father, in an uncomfortable confrontation. As Bryan Bellace agreed to meet with Mark Clopp, after realizing how outraged the country was by his behavior.
Bellace said, “I’m very deeply sorry about what I’ve done and if I could take it all back and do it all over again, I would.”
Mark extended an apology to Bellace rather than lashing out in rage. He explained that since Christian was such a lovely and caring child, forgiving Bellace is what he would have wanted.
“Throughout all of it, all he did was smile at people. He was the happiest kid and never complained a day in his life. Being angry is never going to heal anyone, it’s never going to fix it. The most intelligent thing to do is to put it behind us. Let’s move on and turn it into something positive,” Mark Clopp said.
Since then, community members have gathered to clean the memorial. Many of the people who helped to clean the plaque were positively affected by Christianity. Surprisingly, Mark has chosen to view the incident positively.
Mark wrote on Facebook, “At the end of the day, the good outweighed and overwhelmed the bad. This is what Christian did during his life. He brought people together and he has accomplished that again. Perhaps the playground will be beautified, maybe expanded as a result. It doesn’t matter, as long as it is enjoyed by thousands of children in the future.”
Mark, of course, acknowledged that forgiveness was not always an option. Before he was reminded of his son’s legacy, Mark referred to them as “narcissistic, drunken scumbags” who had “no regard for anyone or anything,” before the men were identified.
Mark wrote, “As for the two actors: I don’t know either one of you. I have no idea what exists in your life to make you so indifferent to how others feel but I hope this serves as a wake-up call and you get the help you need. I admit, my initial reaction was to find you and beat you senseless in defense of my son’s honor and the distress you caused my family. I am better than that.”
Watch the video below for more details: