Police arrest suspected Cathedral vandal

Mon., June 27, 2016

From staff reports

Spokane police arrested a 27-year-old man Saturday suspected of vandalizing Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral.

James Meier has been charged with criminal mischief and disorderly conduct after he entered the Catholic cathedral in downtown Spokane as tens of thousands of basketball players and fans attended Hoopfest nearby.

Police and church staff tell television stations KREM and KHQ that Meier swung a metal cross found in the cathedral to damage the marble altar and statues.

He was reportedly in the building for about an hour.

Police were called when Meier stood on the steps outside the cathedral shouting and waving the cross which he had affixed a knife to, according to court records obtained by the television stations.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forum series -- which helps to boost local journalism -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax-deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.