Crime & Safety

Police Arrest Man Accused of Vandalizing 'Priceless' Religious Statue

An alert SCPD sergeant saw the man carrying a piece of suspicious-looking wood.

Santa Cruz police Sgt. Jon Bush spotted a man carrying a piece of wood that looked like it might be part of a statue, on the corner of Cooper Street and Pacific Avenue Friday at 6 p.m.

When Bush started talking to the man, Lee Wilson, 54, he got word back from dispatch that a vandalism had been reported 20 minutes earlier at Holy Cross Catholic Church at 170 High St.

While officer Barnaby Clark talked to Wilson, Bush got ahold of a pastor at Holy Cross, who told him a priceless, 3-5-foot statue of Saint Joseph made in 1791 had been broken into pieces. It was from the original Mission Santa Cruz, and people come from all over the state to visit the statue.

Find out what's happening in Santa Cruzwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

It usually rests in an archway several feet off the ground in the chapel.

Wilson then reportedly told the officers he was trying to steal the statue. He was booked on charges of grand theft, vandalism and parole violation.

Find out what's happening in Santa Cruzwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Anyone with more information can call 831-420-5820.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.