Menu
Police investigating vandalism
The Fort Scott Police Department is investigating several incidents of criminal damage that have occurred this week at a local church and other areas in town.
One of the major cases took place sometime between Sunday and Wednesday, and involved vandals throwing bricks, rocks and a concrete block through several windows on the north side of United Missionary Baptist Church building, located at 16 N. Ransom.
Church members said they first discovered the damage on Wednesday. Besides broken glass found in and outside the church, pieces of rocks and bricks were found inside the building.
The Rev. George Proctor, church pastor, said he first received information about the vandalism on Wednesday and visited the church to survey the damage.
Proctor said his reaction to the incident was not one of anger, but of compassion for the vandals responsible.
"We can fix windows, but it's the heart we're concerned about," he said, adding people can change their dispositions. "We can change who we are."
Upon reviewing the damage Thursday, church member Robert Nelson said he doesn't recall any similar incident ever happening at the church. He said nothing was missing from inside the church, which was expected to be cleaned up Thursday following the incident.
Nelson added the church has not received any threatening or angry phone calls and he's not sure why it was picked as a target.
"Maybe they're mad at God," he said.
Nelson said he hopes insurance will cover the cost of the damages.
Proctor, pastor of the church for the last four years, also said the church has not received any threats that he is aware of.
"I'm not aware of anyone who is angry with the church at all," he said, adding such an incident has never happened before to his knowledge. "Fort Scott has been an awesome community in which to worship in. We've never had any break-ins or rebellion; it's been a very good community. We have fed the needy each month and seen a lot of good things happen."
Fort Scott Police Department Lt. Travis Shelton said the incident at the church is one of a few reports of criminal damage the department has received over the last couple of days, adding they all involve objects such as rocks, bricks and sticks being used to break windows.
One report involved four glass windows broken out at the Sherwin Williams building, 301 E. Wall St., with damages estimated at about $150. Total damages at the church are estimated to be about $1,500, Shelton said.
Another incident involved broken windows on a couple of school buses parked at the USD 234 bus barn, with total damages to both buses estimated at a little more than $8,000, Shelton said.
All the recent reports of criminal damage may be connected.
"They may possibly be related due to (their) proximity in town and similar time frame," Shelton said.
Shelton added no arrests have been made at this time but the cases are being investigated.
"We are actively following leads right now and talking with other local businesses that may have security cameras through that area," he said.
Proctor said he is aware of some other acts of vandalism that have taken place in Fort Scott recently and doesn't think the destruction done at his church is an isolated incident.
"I think it's part of a flurry of vandalism that seems to be going on in the area," he said. "Our church is actually praying for them, because something is not exactly right for them. Our prayers are for them."
Shelton said he encourages anyone with information about these incidents to call the FSPD non-emergency line at (620) 223-1700, or the tips line at 223-1711.
Anyone who notices any suspicious activity should call the police immediately, he said.