Church Property Damage News 09/03/2023

(September 1) Oregon Catholic Church Fire Determined To Be Arson; Suspect Arrested | Salem, OR

The Salem Police Department has determined that the intense fire that devastated a historic Oregon Catholic church early Thursday morning was arson and announced that the suspect has been arrested.

The suspect, Billy James Sweeten, 48, is currently in police custody at Marion County Jail.

According to a Salem Police Department Thursday press release, the Aug. 31 fire, which destroyed the sanctuary of St. Joseph Church in Salem, Oregon, began in a garbage bin on the church property.

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(September 1) Vandals Strike Oklahoma City Church Causing $20,000 In Damage: Police Seek Public's Help | OK

The Oklahoma City Police Department is investigating after a church was vandalized early Wednesday morning.

"It's very obvious that it's an attack to the church, that it's an attack to Christianity, that it's an attack to our beliefs, or something. They don't like church," said Juan Diaz, pastor of the Jesus Is My Strength Church.

Juan Diaz did not mince words after vandals hit his church overnight. He said Oklahoma City Police called him around 1 a.m. Wednesday.

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(August 31) Suspect Breaks Into Church, Damages Classroom: Parma Police Blotter | Parma, OH

On Aug. 8, police were dispatched to St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church regarding a break-in.

An arriving officer talked to the caller, who said they discovered that not only had someone entered the building, they also caused damage to a classroom. There are no suspects. Police are investigating.

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(August 31) New Hampshire Man Accused Of Crashing Car Into Hudson Church & Torching Entrance, Flagged Down Police Himself | Hudson, NH

Early Saturday, a man drove his car into the First Baptist Church in Hudson, N.H., set fire to its entrance, and then turned his destructive path towards a neighboring 7-Eleven store.

The suspect, 29-year-old Matthew Jackson of Salem, N.H., was quickly apprehended and charged with multiple counts, including arson and burglary, according to the Boston Herald.

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(August 31) 2 Alleged Lugoff Church Burglars Arrested In Sumter | Sumter, SC

Two alleged burglars accused of stealing from a Kershaw County church were arrested in Sumter on Thursday.

Sumter Police said officers and agents with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) assisted the Kershaw County Sheriff's Office in catching the two.

Police said one person was caught on Thursday. The other was caught in the afternoon along Calhoun Street. Online aircraft tracking maps also showed a SLED helicopter in the area when authorities were working to make an arrest.

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