Police: Man caused disturbance at Mineola church, broke religious statues worth $10,000
Investigators said Aldo Hernandez, 26, approached the altar at Corpus Christi Church and pushed over two religious statues.
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Nassau County police said Sunday Mass at a church in Mineola was disrupted when an irate man caused a massive disturbance.
Investigators said Aldo Hernandez, 26, approached the altar at Corpus Christi Church at 115 Garfield Ave. just after 5 p.m. and pushed over two religious statues. The incident caused about $10,000 in damages, according to officials.
Church employee Rob Mondello said one of the two statues damaged, the Sacred Heart, is 110 years old. It had been in the church's original building before it sat in the current church's attic for many years. Mondello said he spent three months restoring it by hand before Hernandez allegedly destroyed it.
"I just broke down," Mondello said. "It’s sad somebody would do something like that.”
Police arrested the Mineola man without any further incident and said no one was hurt during the altercation, though parishioners were shaken up.
"It’s very important," said parishioner Maria Rodrigues. "I don’t know why people [would] do something like that.”
“That’s a horrible thing," said parishioner Bozna Rif. "That’s absolutely unbelievable. I don’t know who would do that.”
This church has served as an important part of life for many parishioners.
"I received first communion in this church, was married here, our funerals are here. We live and die in this church," said Erin who, is a longtime parishioner.
They hope things can be restored soon.
Officials have not released a possible motive. A mental health evaluation was ordered for Hernandez.
Police charged Hernandez with second-degree criminal mischief. He was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead.
