Sweet Home police announced Wednesday, April 12, that a Brownsville man has been arrested in connection with an April 2021 burglary at the former city’s Elm Street Baptist Church.
According to a news release, Sweet Home officers were dispatched at about 8:45 a.m. Tuesday, April 11, to the suspect’s Brownsville residence.
The church, located at 1150 Elm St., was burglarized in late April of 2021 by someone who broke in and turned on water faucets that caused damage well into thousands of dollars. Two weeks later, on May 11, an arsonist set fire to and severely damaged the building. Reconstruction was completed late last year.
Williams Jr., then 19, was identified as the suspect at that time. An initial investigation and forensic evidence processed by the Oregon State Police Crime Lab confirmed his identity, police said.
The suspect was arrested without incident at his home, charged with second-degree burglary and first-degree criminal mischief, interviewed by a detective and taken to the Linn County Jail.
Williams Jr., then listing a Sweet Home address, pleaded guilty to burglary and theft charges in 2021 in connection with a break-in at a Dari Mart on Queen Avenue in Albany, where he stole cigarettes. He was sentenced to five days in jail, five days of work crew and 18 months probation.