STAFF
Police in Houma, Louisiana are looking for a person who was caught on surveillance video vandalizing statues at a Catholic Church.
The statues have been at the church since the 1960’s. A police spokesperson said video shows a man lifting, then smashing the statues the morning of July 22.
Nothing was stolen during the criminal act.
Police do not know the man’s motives and have not yet determined his identity.
TIMOTHY DUFF
A congregation in Montgomery, Alabama has returned to its sanctuary eight months after an arsonist attempted to burn it down.
(This Facebook post was made one day after the fire)
The church service began with the baptism of a young child who gave his life to Christ.
Federal authorities in the United States say Xiaoquin Yan, 27, set four fires inside the First Baptist Church of Montgomery on September 30, 2021. She’s now facing federal charges. If convicted on the federal charges, Yan faces a prison sentence of between 5-20 years in prison.
The church has served the Montgomery, Alabama area for nearly 200 years.
(Photo: Stateline Area Crime Stoppers)
STAFF
A congregation in Stephenson County, Illinois had to spend time cleaning obscene graffiti off of the church walls after vandals damaged the building in the late-night hours.
A sheriff’s office news release says the vandalism was discovered around 8 a.m. on July 14 at the Cedarville Baptist Church. The spokesperson said there were no other reports of vandalism in the area.
Investigators have not yet determined a motive for the criminal act.
JEFF TURNER
Officers in the US have arrested a man for hate crimes after they say the suspect was caught on video smashing a window at a church before running off.
Video from surveillance cameras at Community Church of Christ in Queens, New York was posted to the police department’s Crime Stoppers twitter account shortly after the damage was reported.
Police say the damage was done Tuesday, March 8. Video from the church and other evidence, led police to Tonnie Smith, 32, of Queens. He has been charged with criminal mischief and aggravated harassment. Both are listed as hate crimes in the State of New York.
Janet Johnson-Tremblay
A congregation in the US has few answers as to why someone would smash stained glass windows and steal the altar Bible and a wooden cross. The damage was discovered Thursday at the Handsboro United Methodist Church in Mississippi.
“Sad to report that the sanctuary was vandalized. One of our beautiful stained glass windows was broken and the Bible on the altar and wooden cross Mr. Sam Krohn built were taken. It is unfortunate that people have the nerve to do such a thing to a church,” says a post to the church’s Facebook page.
Pastor John McCay told MagnoliaStateLive that the items stolen were of, “great sentimental value” to the church. WLOX Television reports a vandal or vandals recently damaged other churches in the area.
Police have yet not determined a motive of the person or persons who damaged the church buildings.
Texas Gospel Canada Southern Gospel Radio 