Zuri C. Towns, 45, was arrested for vandalizing five predominantly black churches in Morris County, New Jersey. Police were notified on Saturday of the broken windows and damaged exterior signs which occurred at the Church of God in Christ for All Saints, Bethel A.M.E. Church, Calvary Baptist Church, Union Baptist Church, and Morristown Church of Christ in Morris Township.
Sidney Williams, pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church said one of the churches handed over their surveillance footage to authorities which shows the moment when Towns pulled a rock from his pocket and threw it at the stained-glass window of the Church of God in Christ for All Saints.
The pastors tried cleaning up the damage before Sunday's services. "We still preach forgiveness but we also have to preach safety and understanding," Williams said. New Jersey Governor-elect Phil Murphy commented on the matter, referring to Towns' behavior as "cowardly acts."
The vandalism is not being considered a bias crime.