Teen arrested, others
sought for statue vandalism

One teenager is under arrest and police are looking for more suspects in two acts of vandalism against religious statues.
Shawn "Beefy" Robertson, 18, of the 2800 block of Neptune Road in Normandy, was arrested last week.
Police said Robertson, a senior at MaST Community Charter School, knocked the heads off statues of St. John Neumann and Mary at a local church and school.
The first incident happened in the early morning hours of Nov. 25, Thanksgiving, on the front lawn outside St. Martha Church, 11321 Academy Road, where Robertson and others allegedly beheaded a statue of St. John Neumann.
Three of the statue’s fingers were severed. The weapon was believed to be a heavy industrial-type ashtray. Damage was estimated at $2,000.
The second incident took place on the evening of Feb. 17 and the early morning of Feb. 18 at Archbishop Ryan High School.
Robertson and others allegedly smashed windows, stole trophies and broke security lights and a surveillance camera. They used an ax to break three air conditioners
They removed the head from a Blessed Mother statue, destroyed a statue of the Holy Family (Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus) and broke toes on a St. Francis of Assisi statue and another statue of Mary. Damage was estimated at $15,000.
"This kid has a lot of anger issues, I would say," said Capt. Jack McGinnis, of the police major crimes unit.
Ryan president Mike McArdle is pleased with the arrest.
"We’re happy to have some answers as to what happened and why," he said. "We’re very grateful to the police. They worked very hard on this.{
The statue parts were not discovered at either crime scene. They are believed to have been thrown in the woods behind Ryan.
St. Martha plans to replace the St. John Neumann statue.
The St. Jude Religious Stores donated a statue of Mary to Ryan.
McGinnis said Detectives Rosemary DiLacqua and Gerard Brennan solved the case "by talking to everybody in the Northeast."
"They did a million interviews," he said. "Rose and Gerry did a bang-up job on it."
The detectives executed search warrants of Robertson’s car, house and an adjoining shed before arresting him.
When the detectives conducted interviews as part of the investigation, Robertson’s name was often mentioned as a suspect.
It is believed that the suspect, a member of a heavy-metal band, wanted to use a picture of Mary’s head on the cover of a compact disc. Detectives also examined Internet chat sites as part of the investigation.
"Apparently, he was bragging to people that he did it," McGinnis said.
Robertson is charged with burglary, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property, institutional vandalism, possession of an instrument of crime, criminal mischief and desecration of venerated objects. He has no prior record.
"We don’t believe he was in it by himself," McGinnis said.
The investigation continues.
"We do expect to lock up other people on it. We have a good idea who we’re going to lock up," said McGinnis, adding that some of the prime suspects attend Ryan.
Anyone with information is asked to call McGinnis at 215-686-3396. ••