Police need the public’s help pinpointing the suspect who broke into a church earlier this month, caused damage and stole a guitar.
McDowell County Crimestoppers and the church are offering cash rewards for helpful information.
Harold Davis, who has pastored Faith Tabernacle Baptist Church on East Court Street for 46 years, reported the crime on Wednesday, Jan. 5. The crime occurred between noon on Monday, Jan. 3 and noon on that Wednesday.
The suspect broke into the church and fellowship hall using a cinder block and caused $770 worth of damage to doors, according to police reports.
The perpetrator also stole the church’s 1993 Ford van and drove over a basketball goal, causing $300 in damage to the goal, the reports stated.
Investigator Angie Fineberg of the Marion Police Department said officers located the van on Thursday, Jan. 6 on Perry Street. Davis said damage to the vehicle was estimated at $4,000 to $5,000.
“We don’t have any suspects right now,” Fineberg stated, “but we continue to follow up on any leads.”
Davis said he thinks someone preyed on his church.
“It looks like it was something done for spite,” he stated. “We just thank the Lord it wasn’t any worse.”
The congregation is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.
McDowell County Crimestoppers is also offering a cash reward, and, with Crimestoppers, your identity remains anonymous.
Anyone with information about the crime or suspect is asked to call the Marion Police Department at 652-3231 or Crimestoppers at 65-CRIME.
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