Maryland
Maryland wacko allegedly pours whiskey in holy water at church on Christmas Eve, pelts parishioner with tangerines
He had too much holiday spirit.
A fiend went on a sacrilegious rampage at two Maryland churches on Christmas Eve, pouring whiskey in the holy water at one place of worship before he was detained by fed-up parishioners, authorities said.
Thomas Campbell Bolling Von Goetz ensured he was placed on the naughty list – and in a jail cell – this holiday season after he disrupted two Catholic Masses within a few hours, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office said.
Von Goetz, 56, allegedly began his Grinch-like antics around 5 p.m. when he entered Holy Angels Catholic Church in the community of Avenue during Mass and dropped an onion in the aisle as he walked up to the altar.
As an attendee followed him outside, Von Goetz started pelting the person with tangerines before fleeing, authorities alleged.
Then hours later at midnight Mass at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Leonardtown, he allegedly dumped whisky into the holy water and threatened parishioners, the sheriff’s office said.
Churchgoers battled to boot Von Goetz outside as he tried to hit several people with his bottle of liquor, according to the law enforcement agency.
Ultimately, parishioners detained the suspect until deputies arrived.
He was taken to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital for medical evaluation, and then on Thursday he was officially arrested.
Von Goetz, who flashed a devilish grin in his mug shot, was charged with second-degree assault, disorderly conduct, defacing religious property, religious crime against a group, obstructing a religious exercise, threat of mass violence and disturbing the peace.