Man charged in Philadelphia church vandalism has history of similar acts, police say
More charges added after man is arrested for Philly church vandalism
The man charged in six incidents of vandalism - including broken windows at two churches - has previously been charged for similar acts. Police say he was previously arrested after a paint can was thrown through a window at City Hall.
PHILADELPHIA - Police are providing new information about a man they have arrested and charged in a series of vandalism incidents at two Philadelphia churches.
During a press briefing, Philadelphia police stated they had received reports of about 10 incidents over a three-day period that matched a pattern.
In most of the incidents, rocks or bricks were thrown through windows. Those incidents included broken stained-glass windows at Mother Bethel AME Church and Saint Peter the Apostle Church.
Philly police say investigators, with the help of SEPTA police, began investigating the incidents and looking for witnesses who were able to provide a description of a suspect. They eventually gathered video of the suspect who was described as wearing a long coat and a Phillies cap with some items stuffed under it.
Man sought in connection with vandalizing 2 churches in custody: police
A man Philadelphia police were seeking after they say vandalized several buildings and churches, causing tens of thousands of dollars, is in police custody, officials said. But, after causing a great deal of damage in several locations.
On Thursday evening, SEPTA police were able to stop a suspect matching the description and make an arrest.
The suspect has been identified as Haneef Cooper, 39, and he has been charged in six of the incidents – including the church vandalism. Police say they are still looking into other incidents that occurred during that three-day span.
Haneef Cooper (Philadelphia Police Department)
Philadelphia Police Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore said Friday that Cooper had a history of similar incidents.
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In 2011, he was charged with criminal mischief after a number of businesses had windows broken.
"When he got out, he did it again. He threw a paint can through a City Hall window and was charged for that incident," Vanore said.
Vanore says Cooper was also charged in similar incidents in 2013, 2016, 2017, and 2018. He added that past incidents mostly involved businesses and that the recent incidents are the first connected to Cooper that involved churches.
Police said they could not speak to his motivation in any of the alleged incidents.