|
Police Label Attack on LDS Chapel a Hate Crime
MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA -- While a vandalism attack on an LDS Chapel
Tuesday, January 15th, resulted in only $1,000 in damage, local
police are still investigating the attack as a hate crime. Vandals
scrawled graffiti on the pulpit, set fire to a set of scriptures and
desecrated a painting of Christ's second coming sometime between 10
p.m. Tuesday and 6 a.m. Wednesday. Police so far have no suspects or
witnesses.
The vandalism occurred in the Moorpark 1st Ward chapel, located
across the street from Moorpark College. Senior Deputy Sherrif Ed
Tumbleson expressed surprise at the attack, "It's not often we have
this type of thing in Moorpark. I don't think someone traveled miles
to do this." And local LDS Church leaders are "distressed and
confused" by the incident because its the first attack in the
building's 15-year history. Thousand Oaks Stake President Richard
Taylor told the Los Angeles Times, "I'm concerned that there is
someone out there with the wrong impression of the church. Why in the
world would you do this? What would make you think it was something
you needed to express?" Taylor said that the Church is taking steps
to ensure that the vandalism isn't repeated.
Moorpark 1st Ward Bishop Peter Meline said that the perpetrator must
have either had a key to the building or came in during meetings
Tuesday evening and hid in the building until everyone else had left.
There were no signs of forced entry on doors or windows, but several
wire screens were ripped. The vandalism included lighted cigarettes
smashed into the face of Christ in the painting, burning a copy of
the Book of Mormon on the pulpit, carving profanity and the word
"Satan" into the pulpit and nearby sacrament table with a ballpoint
pen, and razor cuts in several pews. Work crews on Thursday were
rushing to finish repairs for meetings this past weekend.
Police say this is the second case of vandalism against a religious
facility in eastern Ventura county in the last seven months. Last
June an Islamic Center in Conejo Valley was vandalized, and police
still have no suspects in that attack.
Source:
Vandalism at Moorpark Mormon Church Probed as Hate Crime
Los Angeles Times 18Jan02 D1
By Timothy Hughes: Times Staff Writer
|
