Cops: Multiple Buffalo Churches Vandalized In Bias Crime
BUFFALO, Minn. (WCCO) -- Police are searching for the person responsible for vandalizing multiple churches in Buffalo, Minn., over the weekend.
The Buffalo Police Department responded to incidents at several local churches between Saturday and Monday, with four of those incidents involving placement of handwritten posters containing inflammatory messages.
Police found damage to church buildings at five locations.
"We think this person is recognizable," said police chief Mitchell P. Weinzetl. "The photograph is pretty good and we're hoping that someone in the public knows who this is."
The churches affected include St. Francis Xavier, Zion Lutheran, 7th Day Adventist, Buffalo Presbyterian and Hosanna Lutheran.
Rob Jarvis, pastor of Hosanna Lutheran, said he found a poster depicting Jesus as being gay.
"It was (the suspect's) idea of Jesus and then describing homosexual acts, and things like that," Jarvis said, as his church's doors were busted out 24 hours later.
Police have a photo of a person of interest. He's described as a white male with redish-brown/blond hair, a full short-beard, standing 5-feet-10-inches tall and weighing 200 to 220 pounds. He looks to be in his 20s.
The person of interest may be driving a two-tone minivan, dark in color. He was wearing a green Minnesota Wild hooded sweatshirt in the photos.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Buffalo Police Department at 763-682-5976.
