The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A man in his underwear reportedly climbed a church and set fire to the cross on the bell tower before jumping from rooftop to rooftop using electrical wires to assist him.
Late in the evening on July 7, a security guard was on duty at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Boyle Heights.
The guard reported that he spotted a man ascending the construction scaffolding, and it appeared as if he was headed to the rooftop.
According to the security guard, the man was reportedly repeating, “I don’t want to do it,” and he thought he might be in danger. The guard reported responding to the man and trying to get him to reconsider.
After reaching the top of the bell tower, where the large cross sits on top of the building, the man allegedly started a fire underneath it.
The guard called the authorities. The Los Angeles Fire Department arrived, and they contained the fire before it was able to spread.
The Los Angeles Police Department sent officers and a police helicopter to the scene.
According to reports, while he was illuminated by the light beaming down from the helicopter, the 25-year-old reportedly threw things from the top of the building at the officers below. He refused to climb down.
A short time later, the man leaped from the church onto the roof of a nearby building. He propelled himself to a second building rooftop, and when he reportedly hurled himself toward the third, he used utility wires to hoist himself to the top.
Spectators began to record footage of the ongoing alleged feat.
Before he was detained, the man allegedly went into an occupied apartment and reportedly frightened the family residing there.
The police took the suspect into custody outside of the apartment building, and he was taken to the hospital.
He is expected to face charges for arson and burglary and is incarcerated on a $75,000 bail.
There was very little damage and no injuries reported as a result of the incident.
The security guard at the scene expressed that he hopes the man will receive the mental health intervention he requires.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.