Man steals processional crucifix from Ashwaubenon Catholic church, uses it as weapon

ASHWAUBENON, Wis. (WBAY) - Officers are searching for a crucifix-wielding man who smashed a digital sign outside a local television station.

Ashwaubenon Public Safety officers were called to Nativity of Our Lord Church on S. Oneida Street at 8:45 Friday morning for the report of a man inside the church who was "acting bizarre."

"Actually playing the piano in the church, and that, he lit a cigarette while he was in there and a person did confront him," Captain Jody Crocker tells Action 2 News. "Ultimately did end up stealing one of the crucifixes" -- a processional crucifix on a metal rod.

"It's a quite large crucifix; it's probably between four and five feet long and he took that, got in his car and left," said Crocker.

Police believe it's a blue Ford Focus or Ford Fusion.

"The next stop that we know that he made was in front of WLUK on Lombardi Avenue where he proceeded to start smashing out the front of their sign with this crucifix," Crocker said.

The man ran off across Lombardi Ave. and through a yard. He drove off in his blue car.

Police believe the man is 25 to 30 years old.

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