Man Vandalizes Fox TV Station With Stolen Crucifix, Police Say

A 29-year-old Chicago man was arrested twice Friday in Wisconsin, with the first incident in Little Chute allegedly involving him stealing a large crucifix from a church before destroying an electronic sign outside of a Green Bay TV station. Brendan McSweeney was then arrested that same evening in Wausau, Wisconsin, after allegedly causing a disturbance at pizza restaurant.

McSweeney was confronted by a Wausau police officer Friday evening after allegedly harrassing customers and then shoving and choking a Politos Pizza employee attempting to escort him from the building, WSAW-TV reports. McSweeney briefly left the restaurant but then returned to throw objects at the windows attempting to break them. A Wausau police officer responding to the incident confronted McSweeney near the 311 N. 3rd street restaurant, where he repeatedly commanded him to stop approaching.

McSweeney continued to inch toward the officer before he was tased and then tackled as he attempted to flee, court records obtained by WSAW-TV show.

But this incident was McSweeney's second run-in-with Wisconsin law enforcement in 24 hours. Earlier on Friday, McSweeney broke into the Little Chute, Wisconsin, Nativity Our Lord Parish church and stole a large crucifix, police said. He then traveled over to the WLUK-TV Fox 11 affiliate near Green Bay and smashed a sign outside the station.

Ashwaubenon Public Safety officials told WLUK that McSweeney appeared in court Friday to face charges of resisting an officer, disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property. Additionally, McSweeney will face Brown County charges of felony theft, felony criminal damage to property and a felony charge for damage to religious property.