Friday, February 13, 2015
Two Arrested In Coleman UMC Burglary/Vandalism
Two individuals have been arrested in connection with a break-in at a Lawrenceburg church that resulted in thousands of dollars’ worth of loss and damages.
Coleman United Methodist Church Pastor Rickey Wade reported the crime to Lawrenceburg Police officers after checking the church building on February 7. Department detectives report that video surveillance was one of the key elements that led them to solve the crime. The video showed two men throw a brick through the window of a door to gain access.
Extensive damages were incurred when the pair discharged a fire extinguisher in different areas of the building. Detectives report that they opened soda bottles and spewed them onto the carpet, walls and tables. Throughout the building they found that furniture, televisions and chairs had been overturned and damaged. Food and drinks were reportedly stolen, and a brick had been thrown through a window of the choir room. Altogether, loss and damages were estimated at $70,000.
Detectives reported in a press release Friday, “Due to a high volume of church vandalisms and burglaries in the recent weeks, investigators spent an extensive number of hours investigating these cases in an attempt to bring persons to justice for the crimes against places of worship in Lawrence County.”
Late Thursday evening they were able to identify two men they believed had committed the crime. Zachary Dewayne Kelley, age 20, and Nicholas Wayne Cox, age 18, were arrested and incarcerated at the Lawrence County Detention Center on charges of burglary, theft, and vandalism over $1,000. Bond for each was set at $17,500. Both were scheduled an initial appearance in General Sessions Court on March 3, 2015.
