BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) --- An emotionally disturbed man armed with a hammer allegedly vandalized a statue of a Pope in front of a Brooklyn church on Monday, police said.
Randy Maldonado-Avila, 30, allegedly broke the head and hands of the statue at St. Dominic's Catholic Church at 2001 Bay Ride Parkway in Bensonhurst at around 3:30 p.m., according to the NYPD. The suspects also smashed the parish's glass front doors.
"We are disgusted to hear about this from the Bensonhurst Italian enclave. The Italian National parish of Saint Dominick has been brutally defaced. We truly hope that justice for these atrocious acts is served swiftly," ItalianEnclaves posted on Instagram.
Maldonado-Avila allegedly also busted glass at an MTA bus stop and a traffic light, police said.
The suspect was arrested 15 minutes after the incidents and charged with criminal mischief and criminal possession of a weapon, authorities said. It was unclear if Maldonado-Avila would be charged with a hate crime.
The suspect's arraignment was pending Tuesday.
Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.
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