A 34-year-old Lakeville man with a history of mental illness was charged with a felony on Tuesday after he allegedly vandalized a Lakeville church altar during a mass over the weekend.
An off-duty police officer from South Dakota arrested Steven Richard Fay moments after he poured what was believed to have been urine on the altar at All Saints Catholic Church on Saturday, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday in Dakota County District Court.
County Attorney James Backstrom said that because the man targeted a religious institution in "a hate-based crime," the charge of second-degree criminal damage to property became a felony rather than a gross misdemeanor. If convicted, Fay could get a year and a day in jail and a fine of $900 to $3,000.
"It's very sad and disturbing to see a religious institution targeted in this way," Backstrom said.
Fay was not a member of the parish, and it's unclear why he targeted this church, Backstrom said.
The complaint, based on witness statements from the officer and others, says that Fay entered the church on Holyoke Avenue during the 5 p.m. mass, walked to the altar and turned to face parishioners.
He dumped a yellow liquid on the altar linen and book of gospels, then turned to leave.
The officer confronted Fay, identifying himself as a police officer. Fay allegedly took a swing at the officer, who grabbed him by his jacket. Fay slipped out of his jacket and got away, only to be nabbed by parishioners, who restrained him until police arrived, the complaint says.
