Crime & Safety

Newport Beach Church Has Windows Smashed, $80K+ In Damages

A 27-year-old San Dimas man was arrested for allegedly vandalizing Christ Church by the Sea on Balboa Peninsula over the weekend.

A 27-year-old San Dimas man was arrested for allegedly vandalizing a Newport Beach church early Saturday morning, causing between $80,000 to $100,000 worth of damages​.
A 27-year-old San Dimas man was arrested for allegedly vandalizing a Newport Beach church early Saturday morning, causing between $80,000 to $100,000 worth of damages​. (Renee Schiavone/Patch)

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — A 27-year-old San Dimas man was arrested for allegedly vandalizing a Newport Beach church early Saturday morning, causing between $80,000 to $100,000 worth of damages, ABC7 reported.

Senior Pastor Rev. at Christ Church by the Sea Paul Capetz told the Orange County Register that he woke up to a voicemail from the Newport Beach police at around 3 a.m. Saturday morning about the vandalism. According to officers, the man had taken a baseball bat to the church's stained glass windows and doors.

"They were very valuable stained glass windows given by members a long time ago in honor of their loved ones," Capetz told the OC Register.

Find out what's happening in Newport Beach-Corona Del Marfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The man, identified as Nicolas Briones, was found across the street from the damaged church with a baseball bat in hand Saturday morning, reports said. He was arrested and remains in custody.

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