$50,000 Vandalism Damage To Medical Lake Church - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

UPDATE: $50,000 In Damages To Medical Lake Church, Calling It 'Hate Crime'

MEDICAL LAKE, Wash - It's not the way members of the Lake City Assembly of God expected to spend their Sunday; instead of attending services, they were canceled in the wake of a $50,000 vandalism spree throughout two church buildings that was committed late Saturday or early Sunday.

The suspect (s) kicked 12 doors off the frames, shattered a front glass window, took a shovel to a soda machine, ripped down a sound board, shattered glass vases into the pews, poured soda into a keyboard, sprayed fire extinguishers in kitchens and spray painted the words "F*** you God" and "Die" inside a classroom. 

But the crook apparently wasn't in a rush; he or she took the time to make a latte at the coffee bar, cook up a hotdog, and grab a soda. Snacks that are now evidence, as the Spokane County Sheriff's Office took fingerprints off the can and footprints from the blanket of fire extinguisher spray.

The church is calling it a "hate crime," and about 40 volunteers spent Sunday cleaning up much of the mess. But some of it will take much longer – for instance, the fire extinguishing spray got into the HVAC system, and now that has to be cleaned so it's not a health hazard. For now, services will be moved into the gym.

The Spokane County Sheriff's Office tells KHQ the detective on the case does have a lead as far as a suspect(s), but no arrests have yet been made. A reward will be offered for information leading to an arrest through Crime Stoppers.

But through all the damage and clean up still do to, the church practices what it preaches:

"We forgive them, we love them, and we know in life everyone makes bad choices.  That's why we exist, is to share with people that there's always a path forward to forgiveness."