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EAGLE MOUNTAIN — Utah County sheriff’s deputies continued Friday to look for the person who caused approximately $25,000 damage in vandalism to a church, including setting a small fire inside.
On Sept. 7, deputies were called to a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 1330 E. Ira Hodges Scenic Parkway in Eagle Mountain, on a report of a possible arson. A person doing a check of the building said he “noticed a strong smoke smell and a pile of ash in one of the hallways,” according to a search warrant affidavit filed in 4th District Court.
Damage was found in a restroom, chalkboards had graffiti on them, and “a hymn book ... had been set on fire on the pulpit in the chapel area of the church,” the warrant states. Multiple whiteboards also had degrading graffiti on them.
“The facility manager estimates the total cost to complete the repairs to be approximately, $25,000,” according to the warrant.
The last person known to be in the building prior to the discovery of the fire was on Sunday, Sept. 6, about 2 p.m. Investigators believe the vandalism was caused sometime between then and 6 a.m. on Sept. 7, the warrant states.
Deputies checking the church found a window “that appeared to have been lifted open. The window led into the room which had been damaged. The deputy also noticed the air conditioning units on the outside of the building had been manually turned off,” according to the affidavit.
Utah County Sheriff’s Sgt. Spencer Cannon confirmed Friday the investigation is ongoing but no arrests had been made.
