Tag: Crime

Ontario Man Awaits Sentencing This Week for First Nation Church Arson

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JEFF TURNER

A court will determine the fate of Emric Thompson next week in connection with a 2020 church fire at Saugeen First Nation.

Thompson faces sentencing on November 27 for burning the Church of Jesus Christ and damaging a worship pavilion with an all-terrain vehicle. The court found him guilty of both arson and mischief causing damage worth more than $5,000.

The incidents took place on September 28, 2020, during a period when several churches in the area experienced fire damage. Thompson stood trial for three separate church fires but was cleared of involvement in two cases. The court found him not guilty regarding the Saugeen Fellowship Baptist Church fire, while prosecutors dropped charges related to Wesley United Church due to lack of evidence.

Superior Court Justice Roger Chown will issue the sentence after hearing arguments from both sides. While arson carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison, Thompson’s sentence could range from probation to two years in custody. Prosecutors have asked for a period of probation lasting two years, plus 100 hours of community service after any jail term.

The sentencing hearing begins at 3 p.m. at the local courthouse.

Catholic school in U.S. hit by vandals twice in three days as administrators prepare for new school year

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DAVID INGRAM

UPDATE: Media in the U.S. report an arrest has been made in this case. CLICK HERE for an update from The Washington Post.

ORIGINAL STORY POSTED AUGUST 16, 2022:

A Catholic school in the United States has been targeted by vandals twice in the same week.

The latest vandalism at St. Anthony Catholic School in Washington D.C. was discovered Friday. Police in the U.S. say someone ransacked the principal’s office and stole an amount of cash. Statues at the school were destroyed as well. The same school received damage from Criminals on Sunday who damaged a statue of St. Anthony and shattered a window.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help pay for the damaged caused by the criminals. The organizer described the damage, Our beautiful St. Anthony statue was knocked down and broken, the nearby concrete windowsill was broken, and the statue’s head is missing. Our three playground benches were also pulled out of the ground and damaged. This desecration is a hate-crime and was reported to the police.”

RELATED: Principal calls vandalism at Catholic school in Washington ‘a hate crime’

St. Anthony Catholic School has been a part of its local community since 1922 and is preparing to celebrate its 100th year.

LOCAL MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE VANDALISM

Vandalism at U.S. church investigated as ‘intimidation-related vandalism’

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STAFF

Police in Pennsylvania are working to identify two people caught on video as they damaged statues at a Catholic church. 

A spokesperson for the Kennett Square Police Department says the vandalism happened at St. Patrick’s Church in Kennett Square on Saturday, July 9. Photos of the suspects were released today. The spokesperson said the crime is investigated as an, “intimidation-related vandalism,” because they also posted signs with threatening messages.

No other information about the criminal act has been released.

Bronze statue stolen from Surrey church, RCMP say

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SURREY – Investigators are asking for the public help finding a statue stolen from a church in Surrey, BC.

A news release from RCMP says it happened around 4:30 a.m., July 13, 2022. Video shows two men taking a bronze statue of St. Andrew Kim which was located on church property outside of the Education Centre Building at 10222 161 Street. The suspect used a dolly to transport the statue and load it into a camper van.

The statue is described as two metres tall and depicts St. Andrew Kim. It is difficult to make out a suspect description based on the current evidence. The investigation is ongoing and police are actively working to identify the suspects.

“A theft of this nature goes beyond the monetary value, the statue has sentimental significance to the St Andrew Kim Parish, says Surrey RCMP Media Relations Officer, Cst. Sarbjit K. Sangha Investigators are actively working to locate the statue so that it can be returned to the Parish. If anyone recognizes the suspects, suspect vehicle or knows that whereabouts of the statue, we encourage you to contact police.

Anyone with information about this incident or video from the surrounding area is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502, or Crime Stoppers, if they wish to remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-8477 or http://www.solvecrime.ca.

Vandalized church

US congregation cleans up obscene graffiti from church walls

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(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.