Man Charged With Hate Crime After Allegedly Breaking Religious Statue
FREEPORT, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Officials arrested a man and charged him with hate crime after they say he damaged a religious statue at a catholic church in Freeport early Saturday morning.
Detectives say Victor Wilson, 49, went into the front garden of Our Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Church at 37 S. Ocean Ave. around 12:25 a.m. and placed articles of clothing over the heads of religious statues, in addition to breaking one.
Freeport police officers recognized the defendant from previous arrests involving religious places of worship.
Wilson is charged with aggravated harassment, criminal mischief (as a hate crime) and criminal Mischief (for previously damaging flood lights at the same church on Friday).
Wilson was arraigned on Saturday in First District Court in Hempstead.