Police arrested a man suspected of vandalizing multiple religious institutions in Los Angeles County.
The Baldwin Park Police Department said in an Instagram post that it was early morning on Saturday when officers received reports of vandalism at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
Officers responded and, after a “brief bicycle pursuit,” apprehended the suspect, identified as 24-year-old Luis Garcia of Baldwin Park.
The police department said Garcia was found with items that investigators believed he used to commit a series of vandalisms at local religious institutions, including St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
“Video evidence has linked the suspect to previous incidents,” the department confirmed.
According to the department, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church was targeted three separate times within the 24 hours before Garcia’s arrest.
Garcia allegedly targeted religious statues and windows at this church, causing about $19,000 in overall damages.
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Damages to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Baldwin Park are seen in these images taken after police arrested a vandalism suspect. February 2025. (Baldwin Park Police Department) -
Damages to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Baldwin Park are seen in these images taken after police arrested a vandalism suspect. February 2025. (Baldwin Park Police Department) -
Damages to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Baldwin Park are seen in these images taken after police arrested a vandalism suspect. February 2025. (Baldwin Park Police Department) -
Damages to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Baldwin Park are seen in these images taken after police arrested a vandalism suspect. February 2025. (Baldwin Park Police Department)
“Investigators will examine possible connections to similar incidents at other local religious institutions for a possible hate crime enhancement,” the department said.
In addition, police said this case will be presented to the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office “for consideration of felony vandalism charges.”
Anyone with additional information about these incidents is encouraged to contact the Baldwin Park Police Department’s Detective Bureau at 626-960-1955.
