A protest against the president at Tuscaloosa’s Monnish Park ended abruptly after a man slashed a large “Baby Trump” balloon.

Witnesses said the incident happened shortly before kickoff of the Alabama-LSU game. President Donald Trump attended the game at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

“Officers observed Hoyt Deau Hutchinson, age 32 of Tuscaloosa, AL, cut into the “Baby Trump” balloon, and then attempted (sic) to flee the area. Officers apprehended the suspect and took him into custody on a charge of Criminal Mischief First Degree. Hoyt was transported to Tuscaloosa County Jail where he was held on a $2,500 bond,” a statement from Tuscaloosa police read.

Hutchinson posted a video on Facebook shortly before the incident, saying he was “going down here to make a scene...y’all watch the news....I’m shaking I’m so mad right now. I’m fixin’ to pop this balloon. Stay tuned. It should be interesting."

Attempts to reach Hutchinson through social media were not immediately successful.

Hoyt Hutchinson

Jim Girvan, an organizer of the balloon protests, told the Associated Press Hutchinson charged the balloon with a knife and cut an 8-foot-long (2.4-meter-long) gash in the back.

A GoFundMe page organized by Hutchinson asks for money for restitution for the balloon, saying he was charged with “felony criminal mischief after deflation of the disrespectful baby trump balloon. Hoyt made sure our beloved president didn’t have to see this disrespectful balloon on the streets of Ttown today!!”

In 14 hours, it had raised more than $16,000, surpassing its goal of $6,000.

After he was released on bond, Hutchinson posted another Facebook video, with the game playing on a TV behind him as people cheered and laughed.

“Some liberals tried to come to my hometown and start some trouble. That ain’t happening,” Hutchinson said in that video. “I did get arrested. I got charged. That’s all right. I’d do it again given the opportunity.”

Hutchinson then asked people to contribute to his GoFundMe, promising that whatever was leftover from having to pay to replace the balloon would go to the Republican Party.

“I’m glad all y’all enjoyed all that, better than this game right here,” Hutchinson said of Alabama’s loss to LSU.

A group of about 40 protesters were on the scene about two hours before kickoff, with signs reading “Roll Impeachment Roll” and various anti-Trump slogans when the balloon was slashed.

Robert Kennedy, a volunteer “baby sitter” who brought the balloon to Tuscaloosa, said the balloon immediately began to sag after it was cut.

The baby Trump balloon has become a popular symbol for critics of the president. Most recently, one of the inflatable diapered figures was in Kentucky ahead of a presidential visit. The balloon made its first flight in 2018 during Trump’s visit to the United Kingdom.

In the U.S., the balloons are operated by the People’s Motorcade who offer them for rent. The organizer of the Tuscaloosa rally said the group has six of the balloons.

The day had been going mostly smoothly, Kennedy said. Some people yelled "Trump 2020" as they passed while others posed for selfies with the balloon. But then Kennedy said a man sidled up on the back of the balloon and attacked it with a knife. The suspect ran away but was caught by police officers, Kennedy said.

It is unclear whether Hutchinson has an attorney who could comment.

Kennedy said he's accompanied "Baby Trump" to many appearances and never witnessed an attack on it, although someone did stab one of the balloons in London earlier this year.

“It is rare to get that kind of anger,” Kennedy said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.