Sheriff’s office investigators in the United States have not yet determined the motive behind a church arson after one person was arrested for the criminal act Saturday.
A spokesperson for the Tuolumne County, California Sheriff’s Office said the fire was set Saturday, March 19 at the Journey Church in Sonora, California. The church building was fully engulfed in flame when firefighters arrived.
Early Sunday deputies were called back to the church by firefighters who said a man at the fire scene was acting strangely. Deputies questioned the man at the scene and arrested him for arson and burglary.
The number of reported crimes against churches and congregations remains low for a second week in a row. No confirmed hate crimes have been reported to Texas Gospel Canada since the first of the year.
CTV reportsRCMP investigators in Olds, Alberta are looking for the person caught on security footage damaging windows at the First Baptist church. MountainViewToday reports the damage was reported January 23.
Authorities in Lawrence County, Alabama began the week looking for whomever caused thousands of dollars in damage to the New Antioch Church of Christ building, according to The Birmingham News. The paper published photos of the damage. WAAY television reports the motive does not appear to be theft as no valuable items were taken. Shortly after those stories ran police arrested two juveniles. APnews reports the teens were identified from surveillance video. WHNT television reports the damage is estimated at $30,000.
A Virginia church grotto was vandalized and statues “irreparably damaged” Tuesday night according to a report from WTOP news. A post by the pastor on the church web site says, “I am so saddened by this act of disrespect and destruction of property…. Let us be people of peace who value and respect one another.”
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.
Reported crimes against congregations in North America were low this week. It is our hope that this is not because most are unknown, but that attacks on the Christian church were few.
A cathedral in Tallahassee, Florida held a dedication service after renovations were completed following a 2019 arson. WCTV reports Seth Johnson, 32, pleaded no contest to an arson charge that severely damaged the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Tallahassee.
The search for vandals who caused thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to a church in North Alabama continues. WHNT TV released video of some of the damage along with information about the effort to identify the criminals. Fox54 reports the vandals will face charges of burglary and criminal mischief.
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.
The congregation of Bell Memorial Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina is repairing vandalism left by criminals who damaged the building during the time the church was meeting virtually. News19 posted photos of shattered glass, bb pellets in walls and tipped over furniture. WOLO television reports the church has been vandalized twice in the past two weeks.
A Colorado woman is charged this week with a hate crime for vandalism police say she left at a Catholic cathedral in October. The Denver Channel reports Madeline Ann Cramer, 26, spray painted references to Satan and what is described as a “homophobic slur” on church property. The District Attorney told the Denver Gazzette the graffiti include messages, “consistent with anti-Christian bias.” The Denver Post reports the criminal act caused around $10,000 in damage.
Police in Oregon are investigating what investigators describe as a possible “bias crime” after someone set a Nativity scene on fire at the infant Jesus at St. Anthony Catholic Church. The Times reports the motive for the criminal act has not yet been determined.
A report from WHIO TV 7 says a 20-year-old Ohio man is charged with felony arson, vandalism and desecration of a place of worship after police say he intentionally set multiple fire to the nativity scene in front of Hopeland Church and a van that was parked on church property. The Dayton Daily News reports Garrett Scott Cook has a January 20 court hearing for the crime. Police have not released the motive behind the criminal act.
Police in Washington, DC say they have identified a person of interest after a man was caught on video using a hammer to cause “irreparable damage” to a marble statue at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, according to a report from the National Catholic Register. The paper says the statue is valued at $250,000.
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 JAN 3, 2022
A church in Sherburne, New York celebrated a grand re-opening this weekend after an arsonist destroyed the congregation’s sanctuary in 2020. WKTV reports The Lighthouse Community Church has since changed its name to Epicenter Ministries.
Police in Vandalina, Ohio are investigating a threatening message and nearly $10,000 in damage done to property owned by Hopeland Church. WDNT reports it was the second incident of vandalism at the church
TUESDAY, JAN 4, 2022
A Smithville, Tennessee man is set to make a court appearance on Jan 13 after police say he spray painted the side a church and left a note on the door saying, “Be a real shame to lose your church because of terrorists.” WJLE radio reported the graffiti included a message ordering the church to stop loaning its building out.
WEDNESDAY, JAN 5, 2022
Bond for an Ohio man was set Wednesday at $50,000 after police say he set fire to a nativity scene and a van at the Hopeland Church in Vandaila, Ohio. The Journal-News of Butler County, Ohio reports Garrett Scott Cook, 20, is charged with vandalism and desecration of a place of worship.
THURSDAY, JAN 5, 2022
Police in Summerville, South Carolina are looking for the person or persons who smashed windows and set fires inside the Flowertown Baptist Church building. Live5News reports some items were also stolen from the church.
FRIDAY, JAN 6, 2022
Arson investigators have not yet determined the cause of a fire at the River of Life Church in Munford, Tennessee. The AtokA Fire Department posted photos of the blaze on social media.
A Texas man is sentenced to 20 years in prison for burning down a church building. CBS 19 reports Paul Wayne Kennedy pleaded guilty to arson with intent to damage a habitat or place of worship in connection with a fire at the Shell’s Temple Church of God in Christ.
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