Suspect Uses Dirt Excavator To Vandalize Southwest Oklahoma City Church

The pastor of a church in southwest Oklahoma City pastor believes his church was the target of a hate crime this week.

The suspect used a dirt excavator to vandalize the front of the new building near Southwest 89th Street and Santa Fe Avenue causing thousands of dollars in damage.

The dirt tracks near the front door of Juan Diaz's church tells part of the story. He believes divine intervention stopped the suspect from pushing through the church’s front doors with a dirt excavator.

“I think it’s a miracle God stop it,” said Juan Diaz, pastor.

Diaz got a call from police after the excavator was found in the middle of south Santa Fe Avenue in front of his church early Wednesday morning.

“You have a big problem here. ‘What’s going on officer?,’” said Diaz. “Well, somebody wants or tried to destroy your church. I say what?”

Diaz told police the machinery was left on his property for landscaping work.

“They believe that machinery was possibly hot-wired and started up and in turn used to damage the building,” said Sgt. Dillon Quirk, Oklahoma City Police Department. 

Diaz showed up to find twisted metal on the covered front entrance and one of the three crosses out front was pulled out of the ground.

“He pulled out and destroyed that cross,” said Diaz.

The sign at the front entrance by the street was shattered.

“Completely destroyed by sign with the name of the church Jesu Cristo Es Mi Fortaleza Pastor Juan Manuel Diaz,” said Diaz. “Three pieces destroyed. So, I don’t know.”

Police do not know the motive behind the attack, but Diaz said someone wanted to leave a strong message. 

“It’s very obvious it’s an attack to the church, attack to the Christianity, attack to our believers,” said Diaz. “They don’t like church.”

Call the Crime Stoppers tip line to report witness information or information that could help the investigation.