A Massachusetts man with a long rap sheet is facing charges in connection with the desecration of a 150-year-old crucifixion sculpture after he was caught on video Tuesday using it as a swing outside a historic Catholic church.
Michael Patzelt, 37, of Attleboro was arraigned Wednesday in Boston Municipal Court on multiple charges including assault, malicious destruction of property, and injury to a church/synagogue over $5,000, CBS News Boston reported.
Video of the brazen vandalism — which prosecutors say caused about $20,000 in damage — shows a now-unarmed statue of Jesus Christ being swung back and forth by suspects outside Holy Cross Cathedral in Boston’s South End.
Patzelt has a long record of vandalism and assault in Massachusetts and Florida.
The shocking video of the desecration shows the suspect swinging back and forth from the cross. WFXT
He has also been accused of assaulting a woman walking outside the Cathedral with her child and following another woman on the same night as the vandalism.
“He decided to come at me,” Tashana Watson told the outlet. “I pushed him four times to get him away and he grabbed my hair and hat and threw them. He tried to speak with a ‘Just shoot me’ effect. I don’t know if he said it to me or my son.”
Watson was able to escape unharmed, only learning of the vandalism hours later.
Patzelt is being held on $5,000 cash bond following the shocking act of vandalism. WFXT
“It’s sad, it’s a historical landmark. I am a parishioner, my grandmother went here. The attack makes you feel like anything is open to attack,” Watson said.
Before police arrived, shocked witnesses tried to step in and pull Patzelt to the ground.
Samuel Copans called the incident a violent struggle, and said Patzelt swore and said “he can do what he wants to do.” The priest then came out and Patzelt was abusive to him, Copans added.
Michael Patzelt, 37, was arraigned Wednesday on multiple charges including assault and destruction of property.WFXT
Patzelt is being held on $5,000 cash bail, which is ten times more than what prosecutors had requested.
The charges reportedly alarmed Judge Paul Treseler who questioned whether the crime was “a matter of a broken heart or a very sick mind.”
The defense said Patzelt was homeless and unemployed after the recent death of his grandmother.
“He regrets what happened and the fact that he found himself in this position,” said defense attorney Joana Stathi.
The Archdiocese of Boston said in a statement that it would work with the church to “assess the damage,” NBC Boston reported.
“I have no information as to why someone would take such action,” the Archdiocese said in the statement.
Patzelt is due back in court on Nov. 30.
Dedicated in 1875, the Cathedral of the Holy Cross is the largest church in New England and serves as the main church of the Archdiocese of Boston.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
