West Covina Churches Vandalism Investigated As Possible Hate Crime: Police

WEST COVINA, CA -- Police are investigating the weekend vandalism of two West Covina churches as probable hate crimes, and are working Monday to determine if the same suspect was involved in both cases.

Security cameras showed graffiti being spray-painted on statues and other areas of St. Christopher Catholic Church, 629 S. Glendora Ave., shortly before 4 a.m. Saturday, said West Covina police Cpl. Rudy Lopez.

The video showed a masked man dressed in dark clothing spray-painting graffiti on the grounds of the church, including on a statue of the patron saint, St. Christopher, and the Virgin Mary.

Among graffiti were references to various Biblical verses and the phrase "bow down to Jehovah," Lopez said.

Also vandalized some time over the weekend was nearby West Covina Christian Church, which had the words "Jehovah lives" spray-painted on its sign.

No arrests have been made. The vandalism is regarded as a felony because of the amount of damage, but no specific estimate was released.

"I'm a church-going man myself, and I see this and I am offended by it," Lopez said in remarks broadcast on Fox11. "Why someone feels that they have a right to do something like this is beyond me."

-- City News Service, photo via Shutterstock