Crime & Safety
Arrest Made In Garden Grove Church Arson
The suspect "ran from officers," and later told police God told him to set the fire, Garden Grove police say.
GARDEN GROVE, CA — A convicted burglar accused of torching a Garden Grove church was charged Tuesday, court records show.
Hong Van Nguyen, 44, is accused of setting a floral arrangement and potted plants around a Virgin Mary statue aflame at a Garden Grove church.
Nguyen has a previous 2018 conviction for burglary in Santa Clara County, according to court records.
Find out what's happening in Los Alamitos-Seal Beachfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Nguyen "tossed a lit cigarette and another object that he had allegedly set afire" at the statue outside of St. Anselm's Episcopal Church just before 1 a.m. last Sunday, officials say.
Nguyen allegedly ran from officers who responded to the arson call, and later told police he had been "told to do it by God," according to Garden Grove police Lt. Carl Whitney.
Find out what's happening in Los Alamitos-Seal Beachfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
City News Service, Patch editor Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
