Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network

Massachusetts Police News, Information and Discussions on MassCops

Posted by: kwflatbed

A vandal writes "you brainwashed zombies" on the wall of the United Methodist Church. WBZ

GARDNER (WBZ) ― Police are looking for a vandal who defaced several churches overnight.

According to Gardner police, the suspect spray painted "words of a blasphemous reference to Christ" on six separate churches: The Sacred Heart Church on Cross St., the Bethany Baptist on Ryan St., the Holy Spirit on Lovewell St., Our Lady of The Holy Rosary on Nichols St., St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Cross St. and the United Methodist Church on Chestnut St.

A seventh church in Philipston, the Congregational Church, was also defaced, police said, along with a public high school in neighboring Templeton.

Police said they believe the same culprit is responsible for the vandalism at all locations.

"Comparing all the photographs and handwriting style and black paint, we immediately concluded it was perpetrated by a single person or the same group," said Lt. Gerald Poirier with the Gardner Police Department.

The first incident was reported by a parishioner attending a late night service at the Sacred Heart Church. Officials said when it was found, the paint was still wet, so it was quickly removed.

Initially, police thought the vandalism was an isolated incident, but on Friday morning, they were alerted about the anti-Christian writing found on the other churches.

"We look at this as being a very irresponsible act, an immature act and we pray for the people, forgive them," said Deacon Stanley Baczewski with Holy Spirit Church.

"It sounds like the work of someone who's extremely angry at religion for whatever reason," said Father Andre Dargis with Lady of the Holy Rosary. "It invites us to have a response which is worthy of Jesus and of the Gospel."

http://wbztv.com/local/gardner.churc....2.682355.html

---

Posted by: kwflatbed

Arrest Made In Church Vandalisms

Buildings Spray-Painted During Holy Week


POSTED: 5:43 pm EDT March 25, 2008

Video: Arrest Made In Church Vandalisms

BOSTON -- An arrest was made Tuesday after several churches in Gardner were vandalized last week.
Brian D. Griffin, 19, of Phillipston, was arrested in connection with the incidents. Officials said that they are searching for a woman who may have been involved.
"Griffin walked into the Gardner police station at about 4:30 p.m. and confessed to his involvement in the tagging of six Gardner churches, one Phillipston church and one Templeton school," Gardner Police Lt. Gerald J. Poirier said.

A parishioner attending a service Thursday night at the Sacred Heart Church on Cross Street found the front door of the church vandalized at about 11 p.m. The door was spray-painted with words deemed a blasphemous reference to Christ.

On Friday morning, police received several other reports of vandalism at city churches of various denominations. The Bethany Baptist on Ryan Street, the Holy Spirit on Lovewell Street, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary on Nichols Street, St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Cross Street, and the United Methodist Church on Chestnut Street were spray-painted with vulgar, anti-Christian remarks, officials said.

The messages included "Jesus is dead" and "You brainwashed zombies."

Gardner Mayor Mark Hawke said that police were focusing their investigation from two people in the area.

"It was a terrible act by some childish individuals, and they are younger adults," he said.

Black spray paint was used in all of the incidents, and it appears from the writing style used that a lone person is responsible for all of the incidents. With the exception of the Congregational Church located in Philipston, all the crimes happened in Gardner.

"It's terrible. I belong to the Sacred Heart Church," said parishioner Jerry Casey. "It depends who it is, of course, and if it's teenagers, there should be some community services or something like that."

A $1,000 reward was offered for information leading to arrests by Knights of Columbus Council 396.

"We didn’t do it for any sort of publicity, but it is nice to be able to let people know that the Knights of Columbus are a Catholic organization, and we do support our churches. We are here to defend our churches," said Brian Bourgeois, of the Knights of Columbus.



Previous Stories:

• March 22, 2008: Strangers Help In Church Graffiti Cleanups
• March 22, 2008: Reward Offered After Churches Vandalized

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news...03/detail.html

---

vBulletin Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Limited.
vB Easy Archive Final ©2000 - 2008 - Created by Stefan "Xenon" Kaeser