Accused Catholic Church Vandal Free On I-Bond: Police

PALOS HILLS, IL -- A Palos Hills man was arrested in the early morning hours of Jan. 13 while in the middle of vandalizing a Catholic church, police said in a news release. Nicholas Gutauskas, 26, is facing felony charges of institutional vandalism and criminal damage to property over $10,000. Palos Hills police believe that Gutauskas deliberately damaged the church on several occasions prior to his arrest on Saturday.

Between December and January, Gutauskas allegedly used a hammer to break out several windows and the gutters at Sacred Heart Church, 8245 W. 111th Street, Palos Hills. In January, graffiti was found on the church. After many days of surveillance and searching the neighborhood, officers caught him in the act of vandalizing the church, police said. Gutauskas allegedly admitting to damaging the property because “he was upset about the hypocrisy of religion.” Gutauskas is also believed to have visited another location where he cut the rope on an American flag hanging from the flagpole. Some of the incidents were captured on surveillance video.

Gutauskas was brought before Cook County Judge Stephanie Miller on Jan. 14 at Leighton Criminal Courts Building at 26th Street and California. Gutauskas was released on an I-bond. He is scheduled to appear for a hearing Jan. 16 in Bridgeview.