Two Charged After Man Pushed Liberty Bell Over Barrier

Sean Gerlach jumped over a protective barrier at the Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia and pushed the 250-year-old landmark on May 16, federal court documents state. He is now charged with tampering with property in a National Park and trespassing.

The 50-year-old man from Fairview, North Carolina, caused the bell to sway several times during the incident. A companion, Dawn Hawa, also 50, is accused of flicking an oily substance over the same barrier. The liquid reportedly landed on the bell and stayed there.

Hawa, who is also known as Dawn Benitez and lives in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, faces a charge of vandalism of property in a National Park. Both individuals were part of a group that visited the Independence National Historic Park that day.

The Liberty Bell is housed inside the Liberty Bell Center, where a barrier surrounds the object to prevent direct visitor contact during public hours. Court records describe the bell as a safeguarded landmark with specific measures to maintain its condition.

The FBI and the National Park Service led the investigation that resulted in the charges. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania filed the cases based on the evidence gathered.

If convicted, Gerlach could serve up to one year in prison. Hawa faces a maximum sentence of six months. The federal court filings detail the specific actions taken by each defendant on the day of the incident.