Crime & Safety
Man Paints Swastikas On Elmhurst Church: Cops
The former church member faces felony charges, authorities said. His bond was set at $100,000.
ELMHURST, IL – A Wheeling man was arrested last week after he painted swastikas on an Elmhurst church, prosecutors said.
Josef Stumpfoll, 35, was charged with a hate crime and institutional vandalism, both felonies.
About midnight Dec. 30, Stumpfoll painted seven swastikas on the windows at Pathway Community Church, 586 N. Michigan St., police said. An Elmhurst police investigation led to Stumpfoll, who was taken into custody at his apartment in Wheeling without any problems, prosecutors said.
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Stumpfoll was taken to the DuPage County Jail, where he remained Tuesday morning. His bond was set at $100,000.
In a news release, Police Chief Michael McLean said Stumpfoll was a former member of the church and specifically targeted it.
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In a statement, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said hate crimes have no place in a civilized society.
"The allegations against Mr. Stumpfoll are very disturbing and in DuPage County, we have no tolerance whatsoever for such actions," Berlin said.
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