Glass House Skateboards has officially parted ways with Pat Burke following his recent arrest on charges related to assault and strangulation.
The news of Burke’s arrest began circulating earlier this week, and shortly after, the brand confirmed that he is no longer affiliated with the company. While the legal process will ultimately determine the outcome of the case, the seriousness of the charges appears to have prompted Glass House to make an immediate separation.
At the time of writing, the brand has only released a short statement confirming the split shared via an instagram story.
Photo: arrests.org
From $lave to Glass House
For many skaters, Burke’s name is probably most closely tied to $lave Skateboards, the brand launched by former Zero art director Ben Horton in the mid-2000s.
Burke was one of the original riders for $lave and remained closely associated with the company for years as it built a respected team and identity within the independent skate scene.
After roughly 18 years, Horton decided to rebrand the company. The change was partly because of the controversy surrounding the idea and history of slavery, and partly because he simply wanted to move on creatively. That transition eventually led to the launch of Glass House Skateboards, which carried over pieces of the original team and aesthetic while starting a new chapter.
Burke continued to be associated with the project during that shift.
Previous Arrest Records
Public arrest records show that Burke has had several prior run-ins with law enforcement over the past decade.
These include arrests in 2018 for simple assault, 2021 for charges including resisting arrest, possession of controlled substances, assault on a law enforcement officer, and carrying a concealed weapon, and 2022 for resisting arrest.
Additional arrest records appear in 2024 and 2022 in Virginia jurisdictions, though the available records do not list specific charges for those incidents.
As with any arrest record, charges listed in police reports do not necessarily indicate guilt, and outcomes of those cases are not always publicly available without further court documentation.
A Changing Climate in Skateboarding
Incidents involving abuse allegations unfortunately aren’t completely new in skateboarding. Over the years, situations have surfaced involving well-known figures in the industry — including Chris Cole’s ex-wife publicly alleging abuse during their divorce.
In the past, these kinds of stories sometimes faded away without much accountability. Today, skaters and fans are far more vocal about expecting brands to respond when serious allegations come to light.
Glass House cutting ties with Burke reflects that shift in how the skate world handles these situations.
Looking Ahead
Because this is still an active legal matter, the full outcome — including potential sentencing or legal consequences — remains unknown and will ultimately be decided through the courts.
What matters most is that situations involving violence are taken seriously. Accountability for harmful behavior is important, and ideally cases like this lead to justice for victims and real change from those responsible.
For the skate industry, it’s another reminder that the culture continues to evolve for the better when it comes to addressing difficult issues.
What Do You Think?
Situations like this often spark debate in skateboarding.
Do you think brands should immediately drop riders when serious allegations surface?
Has the skate industry improved when it comes to holding people accountable?
And where should companies draw the line between a rider’s personal life and their sponsors?