Man arrested after smashing through doors of California church

SANTA ANA, Calif. (STORYFUL) - A man was arrested on July 3 after a security camera captured him allegedly using a metal pipe to smash his way through the doors of a church in Santa Ana, California, a day earlier.

The Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) shared the footage earlier on July 3 showing the suspect repeatedly hitting the doors of the Johnson Chapel AME Church with the pipe. They appealed to the public for help identifying the suspect.

Later, police announced the arrest of 34-year-old Joel Fabian Sandoval and said he had been charged with felony vandalism and vandalism to a place of worship. The damage to the church was estimated to cost more than $2,000, police said.

According to police, Sandoval confessed to the crime, adding: “Statements made by the suspect indicated this was not a hate crime, nor was he a member of the congregation.”

The SAPD also said Sandoval had been arrested earlier on the day of the crime after he damaged the garage door of a nearby home.