A man has been detained after climbing a church bell tower and lighting the cross on fire in Los Angeles — wearing only boxer shorts and one sock.
The Los Angeles Police Department has not revealed the identity of the 25-year-old man who was captured on film lighting the fire at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Wednesday evening.
A witness told KCBS-TV the man threw his clothes off the top of the church.
Los Angeles police say a man jumped from roof to roof to evade them after he reportedly set at least one church cross on fire. He’s now in custody. https://t.co/FhrjjwH0Hp pic.twitter.com/d8QgDOjo9u
— Cleveland 19 News (@cleveland19news) July 8, 2021
“The man, who appeared to be clad in only boxers and socks, was on top of a bell tower trying to start a fire when Sky5 arrived above the scene around 8:45 p.m. However, the flames failed to spread past the apex of the roof,” KTLA reports. “He eventually scaled down scaffolding surrounding the tower shortly after 9 p.m., heading across the church’s main roof before jumping across to other roofs in the neighborhood. At one point, he was even seen climbing an electrical wire.”
Authorities are working to detain a man seen climbing atop Boyle Heights church and sparking a fire on the cross. The man has since climbed down with no larger fire breaking out. 🚁: @heli_CvP pic.twitter.com/DDSr5jrTqd
— KTLA (@KTLA) July 8, 2021
#LosAngeles #LA #BoyleHeights
Video of the half-naked man setting the church cross on fire; after they scaled the building’s scaffolding to access the roof. pic.twitter.com/IpWSXe0Ul7— Shane B. Murphy (@shanermurph) July 8, 2021
The LAPD tracked the man and eventually took him into custody around 10 p.m.
The half-naked man was taken to the hospital, but it was unclear if he required treatment or was being evaluated.
