‘Aggressive’ church visitor causes more than $50,000 in damage in Welland

Martha Lockwood has ministered in rough neighbourhoods in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Philadelphia, but never in her career has she seen hostility like what she did earlier this week at her church in downtown Welland.

On Monday morning, a man entered Central United Church at the corner of Young and King streets, saying he needed help."

At first, he needed to make a phone call, and then he needed a ride.

While the church is open to assisting people in need whenever it can, such as through a weekly drop-in social event on Tuesday nights or a hot meal offered on Sunday nights, Lockwood had to threaten calling police after the man refused to leave the church's sanctuary as she had to leave to conduct a funeral in Pelham.

After a short conversation, his voice and body language got increasingly aggressive," said Lockwood.

He became irate, and Lockwood had to run to her office upstairs and call 911.

At this time, he pulled the building's fire alarm and started trashing the church's sanctuary. He pushed a grand piano off its platform, knocked over a pulpit, damaged a stained-glass window and destroyed an antique bible, she said on Wednesday.

The window was slightly broken by him throwing a heavy, solid oak" bench through it.

Nothing about his appearance raised any concerns initially.

He seemed a little confused and it was difficult to determine what kind of help he was looking for and what he needed," Lockwood said.

At one point, before police responded very quickly," he took off all his clothes, said Lockwood.

Lockwood said she hopes the man gets the help he needs.

While just sending someone who is mentally ill to jail is not the answer, there needs to be a secure facility that will protect them from themselves, but protect the community as well," she said.

She said the church's insurance will cover the cost of the damage.

Central United Church has served Welland for 160 years.

We will continue to do so with resolve and determination to spread love, compassion and understanding in a broken world," she said.

Niagara Regional Police Const. Phil Gavin said damage is estimated to be in excess of $50,000.

Papers, books and flowers were also thrown about in the church sanctuary, Gavin said.

A 45-year-old Welland man is charged with mischief over $5,000.

He was released to appear in court on March 3 in Welland.

Kris Dube is a reporter for the Welland Tribune. Reach him via email: kris.dube@niagaradailies.com