A 33-year-old New Jersey man has been charged with vandalizing a Roman Catholic Church in Torrington.
Police said Shumel Pollen of Rockaway, New Jersey entered St. Francis Church on Main Street Thursday morning, tipped over statues, candle holders and plants and did other damage.
Pollen ran from the scene after pulling a fire alarm, but was found a short time later at a local hotel, police said.
He is charged with desecration of property, criminal mischief and breach of peace. He was held in lieu of a $25,000 bond and could not be reached for comment.
Police said church officials told them Pollen was in the church garden screaming just before the vandalism, and told a priest he wanted to be left alone to pray.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
