Drunk Destroys $100,000 Worth of Religious Art in NYC Church

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
By Tobias Salinger , Barry Paddock

The man destroyed $100,000 worth of artifacts. Photo: Church of the Immaculate Conception 

NEW YORK---An emotionally disturbed man went berzerk in an East Village church, smashing statues, crucifixes and other sacred artifacts worth more than $100,000, police said Saturday. “I was praying,” Michael Torres told cops when he was caught red-handed inside the Church of the Immaculate Conception on E. 14th St. near First Ave. about 10 p.m. Wednesday, officials said. Police found Torres surrounded by 14 smashed statues, hand-carved out of wood about 75 years ago, representing the stations of the cross. [link]