Watertown Police arrest suspect accused of vandalizing Armenian church

The Watertown Police Department arrested a Cambridge resident on Friday, who is accused of vandalizing St. Stephen’s Armenian Church in Watertown in November, WCVB reports.

“Chief Hanrahan is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of our investigation into the vandalism incident at St. Stephen’s Armenian Church,” the Watertown Police Department said in a social media post.

“We hope it brings reassurance to the parishioners of St. Stephen’s and the broader community, reaffirming that acts of vandalism or hatred have no place here.”

The vandalism occurred on Nov. 18 when police received a report that a banner at St. Stephen’s had been vandalized, the Watertown police log stated. The banner celebrated the Pontifical visit by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church in October.

When police arrived at the scene they found the suspect had painted over the word “Holiness” with black spray paint and tried to deface Aram I’s photo with blue ben.

Police said the suspect they arrested will face criminal charges for their actions.

The identity of the suspect has not been released nor has a trial date.