Teenage boys allegedly vandalize north Phoenix church twice in two weeks

PHOENIX - Several 14-year-old boys are accused of vandalizing an unfinished north Phoenix church twice in two weeks, but the destruction hasn’t ruined church members’ hopes of completing and renovating the project.

St. Michael the Archangel, a Macedonian Orthodox Church near Deer Valley Road and 31st Avenue, was destroyed after two incidents of vandalism in two weeks.

“Thanks to Phoenix police, we got [the boys] in custody, and hopefully it’s going to stop,” said Jim Lozanovski, board president of St. Michael.

The nearly completed church building had been in the works for 10 years, but in a half hour, the boys completely demolished the structure.

Lozanovski said the boys shattered all the church windows, destroyed the temporary bathrooms, and vandalized personal items inside.

“They went in with intent to destroy everything,” Lozanovski said.

However, neither Lozanovski, nor the Phoenix Police Department understands the boys’ motives to cause such destruction.

Costs of repair are estimated to be about $30,000, and while insurance will cover much of the damage, church members are seeking the publics’ help to cover the rest.

Phoenix police say two boys were detained in the incident.