Woman, 48, to Be Charged With Vandalism of Pasadena Chapel
A 48-year-old Sierra Madre woman is scheduled to be arraigned today on charges that she vandalized a Pasadena Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel, causing at least $30,000 in damage, authorities said.
In addition to commercial burglary and felony vandalism charges, Barbara Knieriem will be charged with committing a hate crime, said Pasadena Police Department spokeswoman Janet Pope.
About 10 a.m. Monday, a worker painting a shed behind the chapel saw a person with a hatchet break a glass door, he said, according to Bruce McGregor, a church spokesman. The workman ran to a nearby business to call police.
Several organ pipes were damaged, the main doors smashed, paintings slashed, a piano was destroyed and there were hatchet marks on the walls, McGregor said.
Knieriem also apparently took a water hose into the chapel and flooded a room, police said.
She turned herself in at the Sierra Madre police station.
Knieriem is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail. Pope said Knieriem made statements that she used to be involved with the church, but “didn’t like them anymore.”
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