The Jersey City police arrested a man who broke and stole the remnants of a Virgin Mary statue at the Holy Rosary Church, an official said this morning.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Juan Miranda, 46, of Jersey City, was charged with criminal mischief (damage to property), a bias crime with intent to intimidate, theft by unlawful taking, desecration of a venerated object, and bail jumping, according to city spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione.
The burglary was reported on the morning of July 1st, after the statue had been destroyed overnight and most of the pieces, with the exception of the head of baby Jesus, stolen, she added.
The location of the statue was between two buildings, 187 and 189 Brunswick St., and the Jersey City Police Department’s Burglary Unit made the arrest yesterday, noted Wallace-Scalcione.
