Who is removing American flags from Thunderbird Park?

GLENDALE, Ariz. (KSAZ) - A man was putting American flags up at Thunderbird Park, only to have someone take them down.

Now we're learning why the flags have been disappearing.

Many hikers here at Thunderbird Park, including the man who put the flags there, have been wondering what happened to them. Where have they gone today? We learned the city of Glendale has been taking them down.

The flags make for a great picture on the mountain at the park near Pinnacle Peak Road and 59th Avenue.

Tony Escamillo tells us he's been climbing to the peak and placing the flags there for more than a year, but recently they started disappearing.

Now we know why.

"It is against city code to place any kind of object item, equipment, memorial, anything in the park.. whatever you bring into the park, you have to take out of the park," explained city of Glendale's Kim Larson.

City officials say park rangers don't often monitor every trail in the park and only recently, the flags were brought to their attention.

The flags are popular with hikers who often pose with the man who puts them up. On Facebook, people overwhelmingly think the flags should stay. One person wrote, "This is so stupid. I noticed the last time I was hiking they were gone." Another person with a different opinion wrote, "So it was never a thief? Rules are rules I suppose.. makes sense, not his property."

"We applaud and appreciate the patriotism, however it is something that we cannot allow. It is a conservation park, so it is really about preserving the natural desert environment," said Larson.

Park rangers kept the flags and hope to be able to return them to Escamillo, who told us his is disappointed with the city's decision.