LUDLOW — Ludlow police announced they charged a Leeds man for allegedly vandalizing Cathedral of Life Church.
Sixty-three-year-old Robert Day was arrested by Northampton police following an investigation conducted by the Ludlow Police Department into an Aug. 20 incident during which the church’s exterior doors were damaged. He was arraigned in Northampton District Court on Aug. 23 and is scheduled to appear in Palmer District Court on Oct. 18.
“I commend the Ludlow Police Officers and Detectives who diligently worked on this case which resulted in a quick identification of the sole perpetrator and subsequent arrest,” said Ludlow Police Chief Daniel Valadas in a prepared statement. “I would like to also thank the Northampton Police Department for their assistance in the arrest of the wanted suspect.”
Police responded to the house of worship located at 51 Center St. following the incident, which was video recorded by the church’s surveillance system. A man, allegedly known to be Day, approached the church and remained on property for approximately 20 minutes, speaking on the phone before stabbing at the front doors with a knife. In addition to the damage, a package of edibles was stuck into the “51” address numbers to the left of the door, according to Pastor Ivan Cutts. No one was inside the church at the time of the incident. Police also noted that nothing inside the church was damaged or removed.
Northampton police were notified on Aug. 23 that Day was last seen in their area and later executed an arrest warrant.
Valadas told Reminder Publishing and reiterated in the department’s press release regarding the incident that it was not believed to be a hate crime against the church, whose congregation is predominantly composed of people of color. He called the crime “an anomaly incident” and that these incidents were “very infrequent” in Ludlow.
Cutts, however, opined to Reminder Publishing that “there is a problem” that requires acknowledgment. His wife, Jeanette, called it “a very violent act” and residents have experienced “pockets” of racism.
Cutts noted another incident during which a car drove off Center Street, damaging the “Reserved Parking” sign as well as the railing on the nearby ramp leading to the church’s doors. Cutts stated that he believed both these incidents were motivated by racial prejudice.
As a “Black congregation in this community, how do I show [members] that it is safe?” Cutts asked rhetorically, stating that it was “not the time to be divided, but the time to be united.”
“We are better together,” he said, stating that the community should not “make light” of the incidents.
Valadas said the two incidents at the Cathedral of Life were not believed to be connected.
He encouraged residents to report similar events by calling 911 or the Ludlow Police Department.
Staff Writer Laura Mason contributed to this report.
