Arrest made in burglaries, attempted burglaries of four churches

Published 12:56 am Wednesday, November 22, 2017

 

VIDALIA — Concordia Parish law enforcement officers said a man named Saint, who they arrested Monday, is anything but his namesake.

Officers allege the man spent his Sunday stealing speaker systems from area churches.

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Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies Monday night arrested Saint Washington, 18, 393 Terry Circle, in connection with burglaries or attempted burglaries at four Vidalia Baptist churches.

CPSO Sgt. Phillip Smith, lead investigator on the case, said the sheriff’s office received a call from a woman regarding the whereabouts of a set of Peavey speakers missing from one of the churches. Smith did not wish to disclose who the caller was or their connection to Washington.

The report came from Washington’s residence at approximately 8:14 p.m., sheriff’s office dispatch records indicate. The deputies reportedly found the Peavey speakers in a shed located on the property.

Afterward, deputies investigated churches in the area to find that two churches had their speakers stolen while Washington had allegedly unsuccessfully attempted to steal from two others.

Smith said Washington called the sheriff’s office Monday night saying he needed medical aid. An ambulance subsequently transported Washington to Merit Health Natchez, where Smith paid Washington a visit.

While at the hospital, Smith said he taped Washington’s confession of the alleged crimes.

That night, deputies visited Washington’s residence, at which the woman that owned the property reportedly consented to a search.

Deputies found the other set of missing speakers during the search, Smith said.

Washington faces charges of two counts simple burglary of a religious building and two counts attempted simple burglary of a religious building.

Police reports from the alleged Sunday church burglaries reflect that the following churches were victimized:

– Triumph Baptist Church, 171 Howard Road: a report at approximately 10:10 a.m. Sunday described a break-in

– Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, 812 Moose Lodge Road: a report at approximately 4:33 p.m. Sunday described an attempted break-in

– Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church, 744 Moose Lodge Road: a report at approximately 11:09 p.m. Sunday described a broken window at the church

– New St. James Baptist Church, 138 Freeman Road: a report at approximately 12:22 a.m. Monday indicates the church is missing two speakers.

Washington was booked at approximately 1:42 a.m. Tuesday. As of Tuesday morning, he was being held with no bond set.