Police examine after fireplace set at East Bridgewater Catholic church

East Bridgewater police and fireplace officers are investigating after a neighborhood Catholic church was vandalized and a hearth was set on Friday.

Investigators imagine a number of individuals entered St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church at 210 Central St. through the center of the day, set fireplace to the altar and stole meals gadgets from the church pantry.

Many of the harm came about close to the altar, the place a hearth was set that burned the altar fabric and a Bible, in keeping with the fireplace division.

“There isn’t any place for this sort of incident in East Bridgewater, regardless of the denomination,” Police Chief Michael Jenkins mentioned in a information launch. “We’re working with the parish to find out how this occurred, and why. We ask that anybody with info please step ahead.”

East Bridgewater police and fireplace models have been dispatched to the church at about 3:40 p.m., after the parish pastor smelled smoke within the church. First responders imagine {that a} fireplace across the altar had been put out with a hearth extinguisher, based mostly on a yellow powder scattered all through the entrance of the church.

Investigators additionally imagine the suspects used a water jug to try to douse the fireplace, however used a hearth extinguisher when that failed.

On the entrance of the church, the vandals lit votive candles and left used matches littered close by. Police mentioned the suspects dropped some meals gadgets taken from the pantry as they left by means of the again entrance.

Investigators imagine the incident occurred between 2 p.m. and three:40 p.m., since an worker was on the meals pantry round 2 p.m. and didn’t discover something amiss. 

Authorities are asking neighbors and residents who’ve details about the incident to name East Bridgewater Police at 508-378-7223. Group members are additionally requested to maintain a watch out for anybody carrying clothes or footwear with yellow fireplace retardant powder, which isn’t simply eliminated.