WATCH: Police investigate vandalism of saints’ statues outside church in Pueblo
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- Pueblo Police are investigating after three statues of saints were removed from outside a church and damaged early Saturday morning.
Officers were called to the 2700 block of E. 12th Street around 9:40 a.m. Sept. 5 for a reported traffic hazard. When they arrived, they found the statues in the roadway.
Police said the statues, including a small St. Mary statue, a large St. Anne statue and a large St. Michael statue, had been removed from their pedestals outside the church.
The St. Michael statue was shattered, including its wings and sword. The total damage is estimated at about $6,000, according to police.
Surveillance video shows five masked individuals entering the church property around 1:46 a.m. Police said the suspects removed the statues and carried them away from the church. One suspect was also seen picking up a flower planter and smashing it on the ground.
The investigation remains active as police work to identify the individuals involved.
The Diocese of Pueblo's Office of the Bishop released a statement about the vandalism. Bishop Stephen Berg says the acts of vandalism at St. Anne Church and Christ the King Parish in Pueblo, which church officials call an arson, are "unfortunate:"
"We have had two incidents of vandalism: arson at Christ the King parish offices and the removal of statues outside the parish church of St. Anne. It is unfortunate that we are experiencing these incidents, as are other organizations and faith-based communities in Pueblo.
We thank the fire and police departments for their alert response to these situations and their concern for our safety and well-being.
We pray for a deeper understanding of the role of faith-based communities and all organizations throughout our common home in Pueblo, and mutual loving concern and care for all our neighbors."
Rev. Zechariah Lynch of Archangel Michael Orthodox Church knows what St. Anne Church is going through. His church had a bell stolen, which was later returned.
"There's a lot of hatred that is stirred up against this person versus that person," Lynch said. "We're losing our ability to have dialog even when we disagree; our ability to respect one another, even when we have different faiths and those kinds of things. And we see that fabric, for whatever reason, I think being purposefully eroded."
Police said there is currently no indication the incident meets the criteria for a hate crime under Colorado law.
Anyone with information or who can identify the suspects is asked to call the Pueblo Police Department's non-emergency line at 719-553-2502.
Anonymous tips can be submitted to Pueblo Crime Stoppers at 719-542-STOP (719-542-7867) or through its website. If information leads to a felony arrest, the tipster may be eligible for a cash reward, according to police.
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