KEY POINTS:
Queenstown police have tracked down a British man involved in the theft of two flags from outside a courthouse in the United States.
The American flags had been flying at half-mast in tribute to a serviceman killed in Iraq on March 20 when two men stole them from outside the courthouse in Jackson, Wyoming.
The Jackson police named the pair as Daniel Jones and Tom Knapp after a public response to video footage of the theft posted by Jackson police on video-sharing website YouTube. (see clip below)
People viewing the footage led Jackson police to Mr Knapp's MySpace social networking web page.
Detective Sergeant Grahme Bartlett, of Queenstown police said the Americans' own inquiries had extended to New Zealand and he contacted the Jackson police chief yesterday afternoon to offer assistance.
Mr Jones had been tracked down locally and, through him, police had been in touch with Mr Knapp, who was still in America, Mr Bartlett said.
Arrangements had been made for the two flags, which were still in Mr Knapp's possession, to be returned to Jackson police along with letters of apology.
Mr Bartlett said the Jackson police would refer the matter to their legal section to decide whether the men would face any legal action.
"In America, in Jackson, it's called a misdemeanour crime, which has a maximum penalty of $US750 ($NZ966) and/or six month imprisonment," he said.
"They said once they received the flags back and letters of apology they would await a decision from their prosecution team."
- NZPA
