Police: Man attacks church worker, plants firecrackers

GRAND HAVEN, Mich. (WOOD) — A man was arrested Sunday morning after allegedly vandalizing a Catholic church in Grand Haven, planting fireworks in the building and attacking a worker.

Authorities confirmed the suspect is 32-year-old Anthony Lee Wabindato of the White Cloud area. He was booked into the Ottawa County Jail, though it's not yet clear precisely what charges he faces for the incident at St. Patrick-St. Anthony Catholic Parish.

"I don't know his motive. There's nothing to suggest that there's any connection between him and that church,"  Grand Haven Department of Public Safety Chief Jeff Hawke said.

Police say said the church at Fulton Street and Beacon Boulevard was open when Wabindato entered shortly after 7 a.m.

Investigators say he broke a chair and then used part of it to assault a parishioner who was setting up for Mass.

"He came at him with the dowel. The church employee had to fight him, fend him off," Hawke said.

The employee is OK.

A parishioner called 911. When police arrived, the suspect threatened them with the dowel. Officers used a Taser on him and he was arrested, police on the scene told 24 Hour News 8.

Read more at WOODTV.com


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