Authorities in Baldwin Park arrested a man suspected of damaging several religious institutions, including a Catholic church targeted multiple times in a single day.
The Baldwin Park Police Department reported that officers responded to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church early Saturday morning following reports of vandalism. Upon arrival, they encountered a suspect who attempted to flee on a bicycle. After a brief pursuit, officers apprehended 24-year-old Luis Garcia, a Baldwin Park resident.
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During the arrest, police discovered items believed to have been used in a series of vandalism incidents at religious establishments. Investigators confirmed that surveillance footage linked Garcia to previous acts of destruction.
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church was reportedly hit three times within a 24-hour span, with Garcia allegedly targeting religious statues and stained-glass windows, causing an estimated $19,000 in damages.
Authorities are now investigating whether these incidents may be classified as hate crimes. The case is expected to be submitted to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for possible felony vandalism charges.
Police are asking anyone with further information to contact the Baldwin Park Police Department’s Detective Bureau at 626-960-1955 .
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