Vandal destroys pair of statues at Forest Hills church
Photos courtesy of the Diocese of Brooklyn
PUBLIC NOTICE
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | JULY 23-JULY 29, 2021 9
BY ZACHARY GEWELB
Police are investigating an
act of vandalism that left two
religious statues destroyed
at Our Lady of Mercy Roman
Catholic Church in Forest
Hills last weekend.
According to the Diocese
of Brooklyn, at approximately
3:30 a.m. on July 17, the two
statues were were dragged
180 feet across 70th Avenue,
where they were smashed
with a hammer. Earlier this
week, the statues — one of the
Blessed Mother and one of St.
Therese the Little Flower —
had been toppled over, but not
damaged on Wednesday, July
14, according to the Diocese.
The individual involved in
both acts of vandalism is believed
to be the same person,
according to the Diocese.
“Both of these statues
have stood in front of the
church since it was built. It
is heartbreaking, but sadly it
is becoming more and more
common these days,” said Father
Frank Schwarz, pastor
of Our Lady of Mercy Roman
Catholic Church. “I pray that
this recent rash of attacks
against Catholic churches
and all houses of worship will
end, and religious tolerance
may become more a part of
our society.”
Police on Sunday, July 18,
released video of the suspect
vandalizing the statues. The
video shows the suspect repeatedly
slamming the statues
to the ground, causing
them to break. The suspect
then fled the scene.
Police say the suspect is a
woman in her mid-20s, with a
medium complexion, average
build and wearing all black
clothing.
The NYPD’s Hate Crimes
Unit and the 112th Precinct
are investigating the incident.
Anyone with information
in regard to this incident
is asked to call the
NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline
at 800-577-TIPS (8477)
or for Spanish, 888-57-PISTA
(74782).
The public can also submit
their tips by logging onto the
Crime Stoppers website at
nypdcrimestoppers.com, or
on Twitter @NYPDTips.
Reach editor Zach Gewelb
by e-mail at zgewelb@schneps
media.com or by phone at (718)
260–4539.
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