By jeffrey smith
Leader staff writer
Stunned by the audacity of the crimes, Jacksonville police are investigating the burglary and vandalism of Jacksonville Baptist Temple that occurred sometime Sunday night or Monday morning. The crime appears to be linked to a rash of vandalism, all reported at the same time.
The church, at 520 Marshall Road, reported vandals spray painting the words “white power,” racial slurs and stars on church vehicles. The front doors of the church and two buildings on the property were also spray painted.
Two vans had been broken into, as well as the church’s youth building. Two stereo systems, a PlayStation 2 system with two controllers and games, a VCR and a money box were missing. The items were valued at $255.
“It appears to be an act of more than one person. There are no suspects at this time,” Jacksonville Police Departmentspokesman Kenny Boyd said Tuesday.
Boyd said 11 of the 13 vandalisms occurred within a four-block radius. The other two incidents occurred in the Stonewall subdivision.
In the police report, an Oakwood apartment resident on Smithwick Drive said at around 5:15 p.m. Sunday, two white men about 25 years old approached her while she was outside. The men asked what church she attended. One of the men asked her for the church’s address.
The resident invited both men to attend church service.
Jacksonville Baptist Temple pastor Ted Patterson has led the 135-member church for 16 years. The church has been at its present location for 10 years.
“We have not had an incident before. We have an integrated church, a relatively young congregation. The average age is 31. Our church is geared toward ministering to young people,” he said.
“We do not feel it was racially motivated, but obviously motivated by some young person.
Was it against Jacksonville Baptist Temple, Christianity, or the fact of where we are, I don’t have the answer,” Patterson said.
He said either way, the church is prepared for its next service Wednesday.
The temple will continue to pick up children for church. The vehicles do not need to be repainted because the spray paint can be removed.
“We’ve been very aggressive, going to the community inviting people to church, reaching children for Christ’s sake and mentoring them,” he said.
A dozen other graffiti incidents were reported in Jacksonville on Monday.
A resident of 2103 Braden St., reported graffiti on the hood of his car. Damage was estimated at $200.
At the 2100 block of Braden Street, a 20-mph speed limit sign had a maroon smiley face spray painted on it. Damage to the sign was $200.
The resident of 1201 Lee St. reported someone sprayed maroon and yellow graffiti on her white 1997 Chevy pickup. Someone wrote vulgar messages on the driver’s-side rear fender and the driver’s-side door. A smiley face was also painted on the door.
A resident of 1209 Lee St. reported graffiti on his gray 2006 BWM. Rusty maroon spray paint was on the driver’s-side wheels, front and rear fenders and on both doors. Yellow paint was sprayed on the trunk. Damages were estimated at $800.
The resident of 1301 Lee St. said maroon and yellow spray paint was on the tailgate of a 2008 brown Chevy pickup. Damage was estimated at $300.
A resident of 1309 Lee St., reported vulgarities spray painted in maroon on the passenger side of his white Dodge pickup. Damage was estimated at $300.
A white Chevy Trailblazer was found with graffiti at 1311 Lee St. Someone wrote a vulgarity on the driver’s-side door. Damage was estimated at $300.
Over on 1204 Hill St., a resident reported a curse word spray-painted on the passenger side of a black Ford Mustang. Damage was estimated at $1,000.
A resident of 1401 Hill St., reported spray painted lines along the passenger’s side and tailgate of his beige 2004 Chevy Silverado. A white spot and a smiley face were painted on the hood. Damages were estimated at $1,000.
The resident of 2 Danbury Cove reported a vandalism to his silver 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer. An orange line was spray painted from the front of the driver’s-side fender to the rear driver’s-side fender. Damage was estimated at $450.
A resident at 3 Newbury Lane reported maroon spray paint on the mailbox. Damage was estimated at $10.
Police were called to Liberty Tire, 700 John Harden Drive, about vandalism. The manager reported spray-painted vulgarities on the two rear bay doors with yellow and maroon paint.
