SYRACUSE – The Otoe County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of a suspect in the vandalism at St. Paulinus Catholic Church.

A sheriff’s office press release says deputies responded April 1 after the church pastor discovered that the church altar had been overturned, the altar stone had been broken and other religious artifacts broken.

The Otoe County Attorney’s Office has filed misdemeanor criminal mischief and trespassing charges against 32-year-old Travis R. Ross of Syracuse.

The sheriff says Ross was developed as a suspect after investigators viewed video images captured by local residents and deputies conducted numerous interviews.

Court records say witnesses told deputies that Ross stumbled drunkenly into a downtown window while walking away from a bar on the night in question.

 An arrest affidavit says when Ross was questioned about blood in the church and other evidence, Ross told deputies has only a vague memory of the night.

The affidavit says Ross recalled sitting in the dark and getting upset. The deputy said Ross told him he would pay the pastor for the damage, if it turns out he was in the church that night.

Arraignment is scheduled May 17. Ross was released from custody after posting a $500 bond provision.