Bradenton man charged with vandalizing church with Nazi symbols. FBI helped make arrest

An 18-year-old man has been charged with breaking into a church, stealing property and vandalizing it with Nazi symbols. The FBI assisted Bradenton police with the investigation.

According to the arrest report, Noah Turner also stabbed a Bible with a knife and admitted his fingerprints would be found on the knife.

Turner told detectives that he did it to scare the church goers at Iglesia De Dios Nueva Vida Church, 1619 10th Ave. W.

Due to the the crime involving hate symbols, Bradenton police called in the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and an investigation began Sunday morning

According to the arrest report, Turner had been gaining entry into the church over the course of several nights because it was largely vacant due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The church has held online services only since May. When a church staff member arrived on Sunday, they found the church’s sound system and drum set missing, Nazi swastikas painted on the walls and the words, “Get out,” painted on the front door.

Witnesses told detectives and federal agents that Turner had been seen on the property before and the investigation eventually led to a posted video on Snapchat of Turner inside the church.

Turner admitted to most of the crimes, according to the arrest report, but denied spray painting the swastikas. Two other suspects, along with two juveniles were mentioned in the report, but they have not been charged.

Turner was booked into the Manatee County jail on a burglary charge on Tuesday and was released the same day after posting a $1,500 bond.