Spartanburg Public Safety has arrested a man who allegedly broke into a church in an attempt to steal computers and other material.
Public Safety arrested 55-year old Ricky Turley, of Spartanburg, and have charged him with burglary and malicious damage greater than $1,000. The incident happened Saturday afternoon at Southside Baptist Church in downtown Spartanburg.
Pastor David Blanton says he heard a noise when he walked into the church. "There was trash on the floor the office door was open," Pastor Blanton said,
Authorities told News Channel 7's Elizabeth Owens that Turley busted a couple of windows at the church in an effort to gain entry and steal computers. According to authorities, Turley had been ministered to in the past by church members and a K-9 tracking team was brought in to remove him from the building after the Pastor had came to the church and found the damage.
Pastor Blanton says he has helped Turley in the past. "It is a person we know in the neighborhood it is a person we have loved on and have ministered to and that makes it more heartbreaking as you can imagine," he said.
The church had to cancel a Halloween night festival due to the damage. The pastor says service will take place Sunday morning.
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