Three suspects arrested in Glencoe church vandalism

Three suspects were arrested April 1 in connection with the March 27 vandalism at Pine Grove Baptist Church, Glencoe, in Etowah Association. According to The Gadsden Times, Glencoe police arrested Billy Wayne Jones, 18, of Attalla; John Wesley Jones-Simpson, 19, of Gadsden; and Christopher Sean Jones-Wayne, 19, of Gadsden, after the investigation uncovered a tape recording of an individual bragging about the damage.
   
The three men — who are related to one another — are charged with vandalizing the church, causing damage now estimated at $30,000–$45,000. However, church clerk Lee McDowell noted that the church was still waiting on a final report from its insurance adjuster before a final estimate could be determined. Initial reports estimated damage totaling anywhere from $20,000 to $150,000.
   
“There are some things [the insurance adjuster] wants us to check out and use,” she said, explaining that damage to electrical equipment might show up only after repeated use.
   
Although the cleanup was by no means finished, the congregation was able to meet in the sanctuary the following Sunday, April 3. 
   
McDowell credited the cleaning crew hired by the church for cleaning so much in a short time, noting that for the services, the sanctuary was the only part church members could enter. “It was great to see what it was like a few days before and then to be able to get back,” she said. “The Lord really blessed us for us to be able to get back in there.”
   
All three men have confessed to vandalizing the church, the Times reported. Jeff Bryant, who led the investigation, said the three vandalized the church Sunday night, March 27, after leaving a house in the area to walk to another residence. 
   
When they got caught in a rainstorm, the three stood underneath an awning of the church to stay dry. “They were killing time waiting on it to stop raining is what I gathered out of it,” he told the Times.
   
One of them broke out a window to gain entry to the multipurpose building and a door was kicked in to gain entry to the brick church building. 
   
The vandalism was not discovered until two days later when a water and sewer board employee who was checking meters noticed the church’s water meter spinning wildly. When he walked around the church, he discovered the break-in and water pouring from underneath the multipurpose building’s back door. The vandals had torn a water fountain, sinks and toilets from the walls, bursting water pipes. Other damage included overturned appliances, food strewn about and foam from a chemical fire extinguisher sprayed over everything.
   
The only item taken during the vandalism was a small boom box that was recovered during the arrests. (TAB)