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Habersham County man remains jailed after allegedly vandalizing church

Posted 7:00AM on Tuesday 10th November 2020 ( 4 years ago )

CLARKESVILLE – A Clarkesville man remains jailed on three felony charges after being arrested inside a church north of Clarkesville Thursday.

Thomas Oscar Ward, 41, is charged with vandalism to a place of worship, second-degree burglary, and second-degree criminal damage to property at Alley’s Chapel Community Church on Ga. 197 at Alley’s Chapel Road.

“This was actually a burglary in progress at the time deputies arrived,” said Habersham County Sheriff’s Lt. Matt Wurtz. “A passerby called Habersham Dispatch and reported several windows broken. Deputies arrived and cleared the scene and located the suspect in a cleaning closet within the church.”

The church was formed as Alley’s Chapel United Methodist Church in 1870 and the current white frame building was constructed in 1909, three and one-half miles north of Clarkesville.

“The suspect had damaged several items within the church and a door on the outside of the church,” Wurtz said. “The incident took place at about 8:30 a.m. Nov. 5.”

No motive has been given for the incident.

Bond for Ward on the three felony charges has been set at $16,800.

A Clarkesville man remains jailed on three felony charges after being arrested inside Alley's Chapel Community Church last week.
Temporary repair measures are in place on the Alley's Chapel Community Church building north of Clarkesville after last week's vandalism incident that resulted in several broken windows and other damage.
Remnants of vandalism remain at Alley's Chapel Community Church north of Clarkesville after the facility was damaged late last week.
A Clarkesville man remains jailed after a vandalism incident at Alley's Chapel Community Church north of Clarkesville late last week.
Thomas Oscar Ward, 41, of Clarkesville remains jailed on three felony charges after being arrested inside Alley's Chapel Community Church last week.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2020/11/954488/habersham-county-man-remains-jailed-after-allegedly-vandalizing-church

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