A 39-year-old man was taken into custody after three churches were damaged and the arresting officer was assaulted.
Waterloo Region police were called to the International Gospel Centre on Charles Street in Kitchener around 6:45 a.m. after reports people heard windows breaking.
The senior pastor Rev. Mark Emmerson says a cleaning crew was working when then heard what sounded like explosions.
“They said they sounded like gun shots, they were very quick, and when they investigated four of the windows on the Charles Street side had been broken out.”
Despite a search of the area by the K-9 unit, the suspect was not located.
Then around 8:30 a.m. police were called to the First Baptist Church on Erb Street in Waterloo for reports of a man breaking windows.
An officer responded to the scene alone to arrest the man, who was armed with a hammer.
During the arrest, the man punched the officer several times before she pulled her weapon and took him into custody at gunpoint.
Waterloo Regional Police Sgt. David Reibel says “Eventually she was able to get the person down and arrested, with the assistance of a couple of people that were standing by.”
She was treated in hospital for minor injuries.
Damage to Hazelglen Christian Church in Kitchener was also discovered on Mondayand is believed to have been caused by the same suspect.
The Kitchener man, of no fixed address, is being held in custody pending a bail hearing on Tuesday.
He has been charged with three counts of mischief under $5,000 and resisting arrest.
He is known to police and investigators say mental health issues may have contributed to the incident. It is not believed to be a hate crime.
Emmerson says he hopes the person responsible gets help.
“I would hope that they would be able to find resolve and get help for the issues they were dealing with that caused them to damage property.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 519-653-7700 Ext. 3397 or 3399.
