Woman Arrested For Buddhist Temple Vandalism
SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — Police say they have arrested a woman who was caught on video vandalizing a Santa Ana Buddhist temple.
Trang Thu Pham, 45, was taken into custody Tuesday by Costa Mesa police officers after a CVS Pharmacy security officer recognized her from the story shown on news reports, Santa Ana police officials said.
Bottles were thrown at marble Buddha statues in front of the Hong Tich Buddhist Temple on three occasions, causing as much as $10,000 in damage, temple officials said. Police had asked for the public's help in identifying the woman, who was caught on video.
Detectives interviewed Pham about the case and she confirmed she was the person on the video and pictures, according to Santa Ana Police. She said she had no issues or problems with the Buddhist religion, but detectives believe she had a personal issue with someone associated with the temple, police said.
Pham was booked on suspicion of felony vandalism of a place of worship and is being held on $20,000 bail. She is scheduled to make her first court appearance Thursday.
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