Property Damage News 10/15/2023

(October 12) Methodist Church Sues City Of Okemah For Creating A Stinky Mess | Okemah, OK

A lawsuit was filed in the District Court of Okfuskee County by St. Paul’s United Methodist Church against the city of Okemah on Monday, September 25.

The plaintiffs in the case are the Reverend Jessica Higgins, Reverend of the property; Brent Higgins, Secretary of the property; Karie Neely, Church chairperson of the property; Terrell Dixon, Custodian of the property and St. Paul’s Methodist Church, a business located in Okfuskee County at 202 North 3rd street in Okemah.

Both the city of Okemah and the Okemah Utility Authority are listed as defendants in this case. They are listed as the owners and operators of the sewer system within the boundaries of the municipality. The lawsuit filed states the city of Okemah and the Utility Authority were responsible for the maintenance, repair and operation of the sewer system, part of which is located on the Plaintiff’s real property.

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(October 12) Arrest Made In Vandalism Of Jesus Statue At Broussard Church | Broussard, LA

Broussard Police announce the arrest of 39-year-old John Derrick Baptiste for damaging two statues, including a marble statue of Jesus in front of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Broussard.

Police tell News 15, on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at approximately 9:12 a.m., officers with the Broussard Police Department responded to the 200 Block of W. Main Street. for reported damage to property.

Upon officers’ arrival they learned that a marble statue of Jesus displayed outside the church was damaged. They also learned that a second metal statue was damaged at a business in the 100 Block of W. Main Street.

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(October 11) 12-Year-Old Kids Charged For Vandalism Inside Massachusetts Church | East Bridgewater, MS
On Friday afternoon, East Bridgewater Police and Fire were called to St. John the Evangelist Church for vandalism inside the building. The parish pastor told police they smelled smoke and found a fire had been set near the altar that was put out by an extinguisher.

An investigation revealed a fire was set near the altar and damaged the altar cloth and a Bible. The suspects allegedly attempted to douse the fire with water, but then used a fire extinguisher when that didn’t work.

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(October 9) Explosion in Illinois: 10 Buildings, Including School, Church, Severely Damaged After Gas Leak | Woodstock, IL

A gas leak Monday culminated in a catastrophic explosion, wreaking havoc on 10 pivotal structures in Woodstock.

According to Woodstock Fire, it began after noon at 12:35PM, following reports of a gas scent at N. Tryon Street and Lincoln Street, local firefighters ascertained that a contract crew inadvertently struck a 2-inch gas main within a sewer conduit. By 2:38PM, calamity unfolded: a two-story house on Lincoln Ave was leveled in a blast that also triggered fires nearby.
The explosion’s aftermath was significant, impacting 10 central structures, notably a church and school. A swift response via the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System led to a 4th alarm call, summoning 20 fire departments to the scene.

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(October 9) Crosses In Elmhurst: Woman Arrested For Damaging Them, Cops Say | Elmhurst, IL

A 30-year-old New York City woman was arrested last week in the damage to crosses at a church, Elmhurst police said.

The crime occurred about 10 p.m. Thursday at Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, 426 N. West Ave., police said. The crosses were meant to symbolize the church's pro-life position on abortion.

Jenna M. Villareal was arrested shortly after, police said. She was charged with felony criminal damage to property. She was released.

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