News

Central District church, buildings hit by vandals

Police are investigating property damage done to a church and other buildings in the Central District.

SEATTLE — Officers were called in Sunday morning to the Mt. Calvary Christian Center in the 1400 block of 23rd Avenue to a report of property damage.

Police believe the damage occurred overnight or early Sunday morning.

During an investigation, officers discovered other buildings, The Joshua Generation Center and the Med Mix Fresh Mediterranean restaurant, nearby were tagged with graffiti.

KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Chris Legeros spoke with a pastor of the church, Rev. Reggie Witherspoon, who said he is dumbfounded.

“What else is sacred anymore? If the church can’t be respected, we’re living in a tough society. We’ve got some serious issues to address,” said Witherspoon. “It seems to be a cowardly message to me. I don’t know, we are very upset about it.”

Witherspoon said he has been with the church for 20 years, and there has never been this kind of vandalism.

Kevin Calcote spent the day painting over the letters on the walls of the teen center.

“This here, lets me know that somebody really wanted to make a statement,” said Calcote. “Whatever message they are trying to send, I don’t want it to be there for long.”

Surveillance video from the restaurant shows four men running through the area before 1 a.m.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 911.