3 arrested in church vandalism, another arrest anticipated

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By Ann McGlynn | Thursday, September 04, 2008 |

(Contributed photos)

UPDATED: Three people are accused in connection with a vandalism spree at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church and School in Davenport that left dozens of broken windows, a damaged statue of the Virgin Mary and spray-painted vulgarities.

Stephanie E. Wiegel, 18, of Illinois City; Julien Hayes, 18, 2315 Carey St., Davenport; and Ryan J. Gertz, 19, of 1230 W. 60th St., Davenport, are charged with first-degree criminal mischief. One more arrest is anticipated.

Tips led them to interview young people seen running into a house about the same time a neighbor of the church called to report the sound of breaking glass, officials said.

A damage estimate was not available. However, police characterized it as “very high.”

The church’s priest, Michael Spiekermeier, is thankful the vandalism stopped when it did and for the people who came out early Wednesday to help them get the school day started for all of their students except the preschoolers. Classes were canceled for them because the damage was too extensive in their area. Other classes moved into other areas of the school as crews worked to clean up the mess.

“There was a lot of glass,” he said. “A lot of volunteers came forward to help. A lot of neighbors chipped in. The Davenport Police Department was here, and they had about four or five detectives investigating. We were pleased with their efforts.”

According to the police reports and Spiekermeier:

A neighbor called police shortly before 3 a.m. to report the sound of breaking glass in the area of the 1000 block of East Rusholme Street. When police and church staff arrived, they found more than 60 windows at the school broken. The glass on the doors to the church was busted out, and several lighting fixtures were smashed, too.

The head of the Virgin Mary statue outside of the church was gone, and the perpetrators spray painted profanities on the church property.

Ann McGlynn can be contacted at (563) 383-2336 or amcglynn@qctimes.com.

3 arrested for vandalism to church

EARLIER STORY: Three people were taken into custody late Wednesday in connection with a vandalism spree earlier in the day at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church and School in Davenport that left dozens of broken windows, a damaged statue of the Virgin Mary and spray-painted vulgarities.

Authorities declined to release the identities of those in custody, citing the ongoing investigation. They expect to release more information today about the crime.

Tips led them to interview young people seen running into a house at about the same time a neighbor of the church called to report the sound of breaking glass, officials said.

A damage estimate was not available Wednesday. However, police characterized it as “very high.”

The church’s priest, Michael Spiekermeier, is thankful the vandalism stopped when it did, and for the people who came out early Wednesday to help them get the school day started for all of their students except the preschoolers. Classes were cancelled for them because the damage was too extensive in their area. Other classes moved into other areas of the school as crews worked to clean up the mess.

“There was a lot of glass,” he said. “A lot of volunteers came forward to help. A lot of neighbors chipped in. The Davenport Police Department was here and they had about four or five detectives investigating. We were pleased with their efforts.”

According to the police reports and Spiekermeier:

A neighbor called police shortly before 3 a.m. to report the sound of breaking glass in the area of the 1000 block of East Rusholme Street. When police and church staff arrived, they found more than 60 windows at the school broken. The glass on the doors to the church was busted out, and several lighting fixtures were smashed, too.

The head of the Virgin Mary statue outside of the church was gone, and the perpetrators spray painted profanities on the church property.

Ann McGlynn can be contacted at (563) 383-2336 or amcglynn@qctimes.com.