Suspect in custody for church vandalism, theft

Jonathan Hamilton, 33, of Linden, was arrested Friday night by Hughes Springs police in connection with recent church vandalism incidents in Cass County.

Authorities in Cass county had been looking for two weeks for a man seen on security video burglarizing Hughes Springs Missionary Baptist church who is suspected of breaking into over a half dozen churches.

“Several churches here in Hughes Springs, Avinger, Linden, back toward Atlanta and the New Colony area,” said Hughes Springs police chief Randy Kennedy.

A traffic-stop in Hughes Spring led to Hamilton’s arrest where a flashlight and pry bar used were discovered. He was also still wearing the same identifiable clothing.

“What really caught the officers’ attention was that Hamilton was still wearing a muscle shirt, the same shirt in the video,” Kennedy said.

Police say Hamilton was seen wearing a hockey mask in the security video as he ransacked the churches, something he later discarded.

“He got rid of the hockey mask as soon as he found out that we put it on Facebook and Channel 7 News,” said Kennedy, “We were able to identify some tattoos on his chest area and neck area.”

According to investigators, Hamilton admitted targeting churches because no one would be there to identify him.

Security video shows a suspect apparently vandalizing the inside of the ‘Missionary Baptist Church’ in Hughes Springs.

“When I got down there, I found that it was more than just a break in, the offices there and several other rooms had been trashed. We’re not sure what the motivation is,” said Hughes Springs police chief Randy Kennedy.

Church members found that there was more than vandalism, there was an upsetting theft.

“The most disturbing thing was that not only were all the offices trashed, but the individual took money that was set aside or designated for, someone’s funeral,” said Missionary Baptist pastor Michael Stewart.

Kennedy said this incident brought other breakins to light. Investigators believe the same suspect did the same thing at Turkey Creek Baptist Church.

“Apparently this has been going on for a week now because there are several churches here in Cass County that have had the same damage done to them,” Kennedy says.

The suspect hid his face by wearing an old-style hockey goalies mask, possibly helpful in identifying him.

The suspect destroyed a security camera then broke through a back door. According to the churches video time stamp, he was there for almost six hours, ransacking offices and breaking into a vending machine.

We think that there was an accomplice because we don’t think he was there alone,” Kennedy said.

Detectives in Cass County are investigating numerous cases of vandalism and thefts at several churches. Churches in Linden, Hughes Springs and Avinger have all been vandalized earlier this month.

Hamilton remains in the Cass County jail charged with possession of a controlled substance and burglary.

Anyone with any information on the vandalism that occurred at the Hughes Springs Missionary Baptist Church is urged to call the Hughes Springs Police Department at (903) 639-2621.