VIDEO: Watsonville Woman Arrested For Toppling Crucifix During Church Vandalism Spree
WATSONVILLE (CBS SF) -- A 23-year-old woman has been arrested after her image was captured on surveillance video toppling a crucifix inside a Watsonville church during a vandalism rampage earlier this week.
Watsonville police said Jackeline Chavira had been booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail for vandalizing a place of worship, defacing property, burglary and disobeying a court order. Her bail was set at $25,000.
Investigators said Chavira when on a destructive rampage in downtown Watsonville on Wednesday afternoon.
Surveillance footage shows her entering St. Patrick's Church on Main Street at 12:15 p.m. She heads to the altar and looks around before pushing over a 15 ft. crucifix statue.
Police said she then ran to a prayer room, threw religious statues on the ground and tore down large pieces of religious artwork. All the while, two stunned parishioners looked on.
Her next stop was a small business that sells religious items on the 400 block of Main Street. At about 12:22 p.m., investigators said, Chavira entered the store and attempted to steal a religious statue.
She allegedly got into an argument with an employee before throwing the statue on the ground.
Investigators said her destructive spree left behind $15,000 in damages.