Reward Offered After Churches Vandalized
Building Spray-Painted Overnight, Police Say
POSTED: 1:16 pm EDT March 21,
2008
UPDATED: 1:06 pm EDT March 22,
2008
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BOSTON -- A $1,000 reward has been offered for information leading to arrests, after several churches in Gardner were targeted by vandals overnight Thursday.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. The paint had not dried and was quickly removed. At the time, the act appeared to be an isolated incident.
Video: Churches Vandalized | Parishioners Upset With DamageBut 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.""These people knew what they were doing. It appears that this goes beyond just mere vandalism. It is some type of hate crime. I don't know if it has anything to do with devil worship, but these people were out to cause a big shock factor," Gardner Police Lt. Gerald Poirier 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."Apparently, the person has to be a coward if he is running around during the night hours and graffiting not only this church but other churches -- all different kinds of religions," said Gardner resident Giles Arsenault.Police are requesting the public's help in the identification of the person who committed these crimes.The Gardner Knights of Columbus, Council 396 is offering the award.
Video: Churches Vandalized | Parishioners Upset With DamageBut 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.""These people knew what they were doing. It appears that this goes beyond just mere vandalism. It is some type of hate crime. I don't know if it has anything to do with devil worship, but these people were out to cause a big shock factor," Gardner Police Lt. Gerald Poirier 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."Apparently, the person has to be a coward if he is running around during the night hours and graffiting not only this church but other churches -- all different kinds of religions," said Gardner resident Giles Arsenault.Police are requesting the public's help in the identification of the person who committed these crimes.The Gardner Knights of Columbus, Council 396 is offering the award. Copyright 2008 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
