MANSFIELD – On June 26, 2014 deputies from the Richland County Sheriff’s Office responded to Open Bible Church on Rayfield Drive, Mansfield in regard to a breaking and entering. The church had been extensively damaged. Items were broken, paint was thrown on the walls, floors, and carpet. Glass was broken, doors were forced open, televisions were broken, furniture was slashed with a knife, stuffing was pulled out of the furniture, a fire extinguisher was set off, candles were lit and hot wax was dripped on the carpeted floor. The suspects also obtained tools in the church to pry open a vending machine.
On June 27 the detective bureau received the case, and established there were five juvenile suspects involved. Four suspects that were involved in the case admitted to their involvement. The fifth suspect was not positively identified until July 21st.
The pastor of the church reported the estimated damage as $50,257.00. On 07/22/2014 a request for charges was sent to the Richland County Prosecutor’s office for all five juveniles involved.
