Police arrested a man suspected of destroying multiple religious institutions in Los Angeles County.
Baldwin Park Police Station said in an Instagram post that it was early Saturday morning when officers received reports of vandalism at St. John, Baptist Catholic Church.
The officer responded and arrested the suspect, identified as 24-year-old Louis Garcia of Baldwin Park, after a “short bike pursuit.”
The police department said Garcia was found in an item that investigators believed had committed a series of vandalism at local religious institutions, including St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
“The video evidence linked the suspect to a previous incident,” the department confirmed.
According to the department, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church targeted three separate times within 24 hours of Garcia’s arrest.
Garcia is said to have targeted the church’s religious statue and windows, causing about $19,000 in overall damages.
These images, taken after police arrested a suspected vandalism, show damage to St. John’s Catholic Church in Baldwin Park. February 2025 (Baldwin Park Police Station) Damage to St. John at Baptist Catholic Church in Baldwin Park can be seen in these images taken after police arrested suspects of vandalism. February 2025 (Baldwin Park Police Station) Damage to St. John at Baptist Catholic Church in Baldwin Park can be seen in these images taken after police arrested suspects of vandalism. February 2025 (Baldwin Park Police Station) Damage to St. John at Baptist Catholic Church in Baldwin Park can be seen in these images taken after police arrested suspects of vandalism. February 2025 (Baldwin Park Police Station)
“Investigators will look into the possible strengthening of hate crimes to similar cases at other local religious institutions,” the department said.
Additionally, police said the case will be filed with the LA County District Attorney’s Office “to consider felony vandalism charges.”
Anyone with additional information about these cases is advised to contact the Baldwin Park Police Station Detective Bureau at 626-960-1955.
