Irvine Police Department
California police arrested two brothers who broke into a church barricaded themselves inside and trashed it, all while completely naked.
Paul Vincent Vielkind, 24, and Brandon Joseph Vielkind, 22, were charged with burglary and felony vandalism after they broke into the Harvest Church in Riverside, California. According to reports, the Vielkinds used a fake rifle to break into the church before trashing the place, destroying musical and electrical equipment.
The boys mother claims her sons were “sticking up for her” and that they were nude because they wanted to “express their fearlessness”.
The brothers smashed a glass door to gain entry to the unoccupied church, said Kim Mohr, an Irvine police spokeswoman. Police were initially told by a security guard the suspects may be armed with rifles.
Roughly two hours later, at around 9:20 p.m., the brothers threw a smoke bomb outside and left the building, one without clothing and one partially clothed, Mohr said.
Police, who believe the pair were under the influence of a controlled substance, did not find weapons in the church; however, they did locate what appears to be a replica rifle, Mohr said. The suspects had ransacked the church’s cafe and caused minor damage to other rooms but didn’t gain access to the sanctuary, said Johnnie Moore, the Harvest spokesman.
Moore, a spokesman for the Harvest Church, said the church released a statement saying the Harvest Church does not tolerate discrimination.
“Everyone is welcome, and the church has members and attendees from every imaginable background. If Mrs. Hodges made a complaint, then it will be dealt with judicially according to church policy. We are sincerely praying for Mrs. Hodges and for her sons. We cannot imagine what must be running through her mind given the terrible events of the last day.”
