Tempe police arrest burglary suspect accused of breaking into church, causing $10K in damage

A 23-year-old man has been arrested after police say he broke into a Tempe church, caused about $10,000 in damage and stole electronics including a PlayStation 5 used by the church’s youth group.

The Tempe Police Department arrested Erick Encinas at his Mesa apartment on Tuesday.

He was booked on suspicion of burglary and aggravated criminal damage in connection with a burglary at Grace Community Church on Aug. 21.

What is the Tempe church burglary suspect accused of doing?

The break-in happened around 1:45 a.m. at the church near Southern Avenue and Rural Road. Investigators say a man used either a crowbar or tire iron to force his way into the church’s student center.

According to police, security cameras captured footage of Encinas and his vehicle at the church. Tempe Real-Time Operations Center then tracked the vehicle as it left the area and lost a tire near the Tempe-Mesa border.

That detail helped analysts connect the vehicle to a Mesa police call about 30 minutes after the burglary. Police said the disabled vehicle matched the one seen on camera.

Encinas told a passerby that he had come from assaulting a pastor at a church, according to Mesa Police.

When authorities contacted him, Encinas was wearing clothes that matched what the burglar wore in the church footage and had fresh cuts on his arms, police said.

Tempe detectives later searched his apartment and found clothing, a lanyard and other items they believe are connected to the break-in. Police also recovered the vehicle.

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