SEDGWICK COUNTY— A Saline County man accused of vandalism to a church in Wichita last weekend went before a judge Wednesday.
Michael A. Gonzalez, 23, is charged with burglary, criminal desecration, theft, and criminal damage to property, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.
Just after 8:30 Saturday, police responded to a reported burglary at St. Patrick Catholic Church, located in the 2000 block of N. Arkansas Street in Wichita, according to Wichita Police spokesman Brad Wright.
Officers discovered significant vandalism, including hate speech and damage to items such as statues, candles, and glass. Notably, a United States flag had been burned.
Recognizing the severity of this crime, Wichita Police and investigators—alongside federal law enforcement partners including the FBI and ATF—immediately launched a full-scale investigation. The Wichita Police dedicated Crime Scene Investigation team worked diligently to analyze evidence, leading to the swift identification of a suspect.
Officers from the Wichita Police Field Community Response Teams were provided with critical intelligence and began searching for the suspect. At approximately 2:20 a.m. Sunday, officers located and arrested Gonzalez in the 2800 block of N. Hillside in Wichita without incident.
Gonzalez remains jailed on a $500,000 bond. He is due back in court March 31, according to the district attorney's office.