Janet Johnson-Tremblay

This is a list of this week’s reported crimes against Christian congregations and church property in North America. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list.  These are only those that have come to our attention through media reports.

MONDAY, DEC. 13, 2021

A church in Fargo, ND has restored a statue of St. Anthony of Paduca after vandals cut the head off and caused other damage. WZFG reports the damage happened in October . No motive for the criminal act is known.

A man charged with stalking and killing a pastor in an East Texas church has been found incompetent to stand trial. Police say Mytrez Woolen hid inside the Starrville Methodist Church last year and shot the pastor when he was found. KTEK.com reports his case is on hold while he receives “restorative” care. 

TUESDAY, DEC. 14, 2021

Police in Charleston, South Carolina say a vandal or vandals smashed out stained glass windows of the Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church.  News 2 reports large bricks and rocks were used to carry out the criminal act. The church posted a video on Facebook showing some of the damage.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 15, 2021

A Pensacola, Florida man investigators believe is responsible for a string of church vandalism was involved in a shootout with sheriff’s deputies on Dec. 7. The Pensacola News Journal reports Sean Thomas Michaels was confronted by deputies after a tip came in that he had caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage to a total of six churches when he raised a rifle and pointed it at the deputies. He was shot in the leg and deputies took him into custody.

THURSDAY, DEC 15, 2021

Police in Charleston, West Virginia are working to identify the person who threw bricks through two stained-glass windows at Mount Carmel United Methodist Church.  The Post and Courier reports the vandal was caught on video and the crime is being investigated as a hate crime.

FRIDAY, DEC 16, 2021

On Dec 15 a man and woman broke into St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Beaumont, Texas.  Police say burglary appears to be the motive for the crime.  Cash and credit cards were taken and used at local stores.

Police in Seattle are investigating arson and vandalism at the St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church.  West Seattle News reports the fire did not have time to spread before it spread.  No arrests have been made.