A New Jersey man caught on camera allegedly urinating on a memorial for a 9-year-old cancer victim has been fired from his job by his own dad — as he issued an apology for the “big mistake I made,” according to reports.
Bruce Bellace said he had no choice but to can his 23-year-old son, Bryan, from the family’s business, Bruce Bellace Plumbing and Heating, the Press of Atlantic City reported.
“I had to remove him from employment,” Bruce Bellace said Monday. “We apologized to the family … I’m sorry for his actions. I’m not proud of him.”
The red-faced dad was referring to Snapchat video showing Bryan Bellace allegedly urinating on a memorial in Mays Landing for Christian Clopp, who died in February 2012 from a brain tumor.
Bryan Bellace, who was wearing his family’s company T-shirt at the time, was charged with lewdness, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief. Daniel Flippen, the man who police say filmed him while laughing, was charged with having an open alcoholic beverage in a park.
“Ultimately it’s my fault,” Bruce Bellace said. “Maybe we didn’t teach him right.”
Bryan Bellace admitted he was so inebriated that day, he didn’t even remember how he got to Underhill Park, where Christian’s memorial is located.
“It was a big mistake I made. I was intoxicated. I didn’t know what I was doing at the time,” Bryan Bellace told ABC News on Monday. “When I came to my senses the next day, I realized I made a huge mistake. I wish I could take it all back and make things right.”
He said he’s reached out to Christian’s dad, Mark Clopp, on Facebook in hopes of apologizing personally.
“If he responds back to me, I wouldn’t mind calling him and talking to him and give him my apologies. I never meant for this to happen. It should have never happened,” Bryan Bellace said.
Flippen, 23, declined to comment when reached by ABC News.
In taking the high road, Clopp told The Post that he hopes Bryan Bellace and Flippen get whatever help they need.
“There’s obviously something very wrong in their lives that they have no regard to feelings or for the property of others,” Clopp said Monday.