Man accused of spray-painting police K9 during Phoenix church break-in arrested

A man accused of burglarizing a Phoenix church and assaulting a police dog was arrested Tuesday, authorities said.

Justin Louis Blevins, 23, was arrested after officers responded to La Luz del Mundo (The Light of The World) church at 12th Street and Hatcher Road around 2:50 p.m., according to the Phoenix Police Department.

Blevins, who is unhoused and originally from Maryland, faces one charge each of probation violation, resisting arrest, trying to kill or harm a service animal, obstruction by refusing to provide his true name and second-degree burglary.

Blevins is being held on a $10,000 bond.

Details about church burglary, assault on Phoenix police dog

Officers responding to the burglary call spotted Blevins, who ran back into the church and hid to avoid arrest, according to court documents.

Police said Blevins caused about $500 in damage and unplugged the building’s interior cameras so officers could not track his movements. Officers used a K-9 to help find him.

Blevins was eventually found in a bathroom, where police said he resisted arrest and sprayed a clear, paintlike substance in the police dog’s face. Paint was later found in the dog’s fur.

No officers were injured, and the K-9 was not hurt.

After Blevins was taken into custody, officers and the victim walked through the church and found damage in the bathroom, including wood paneling that had been pulled from the walls and thrown around the room, according to court documents.

Police said Blevins initially gave officers a false name. He was later identified as Justin Blevins through a digital fingerprint.

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