BOSTON, November 28, 2016— A Bedford man was arraigned today on charges of breaking into and vandalizing a Downtown church, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

ERIK SWANSON (D.O.B. 1/9/83) of Bedford was arraigned today in Boston Municipal Court on charges of breaking and entering a building in the nighttime with intent to commit a felony, larceny over $250, and malicious destruction of property over $250 in connection with a break-in on Friday morning, as well as charges of trespassing and receiving stolen property stemming from his arrest yesterday. He was additionally arraigned on charges of possession of a Class A substance, possession of a Class A substance as a subsequent offense, and a municipal by-law violation alleging possession of a crack pipe.

Judge Michael Coyne set bail on the cases totaling $3,500 and granted a request by Assistant District Attorney Alyssa Tochka that Swanson’s bail be revoked on two cases out of the same court: one charging breaking and entering a motor vehicle and interfering with a police officer and the other charging attempted breaking and entering of a motor vehicle, trespassing, and receiving stolen property over $250.

According to prosecutors, security cameras inside St. Anthony’s Shrine captured a man as he vandalized the church and stole a sound bar early Friday morning. Using images captured during the break-in, Boston Police identified the individual as Swanson.

Boston Police located Swanson on Sunday in a parking lot in the area of Tamworth and Lagrange streets that is marked with “No Trespassing” signs. At the time, Swanson was wearing clothing similar to that worn during the break-in at the church.  Officers placed Swanson under arrest and found that he was of several stolen items, including checkbooks, purses, and phone chargers, as well as religious items, prosecutors said.

Swanson was also arraigned on drug possession charges related to a July 26 drug investigation in which Boston Police observed an alleged drug transaction in the area of Reggie Wong Park. Swanson was found to have a crack pipe and drugs were recovered from a person with whom he was stopped, prosecutors said.  He was summonsed for arraignment.

Swanson was represented by Patrick Colvario. He returns to court Dec. 12.

–30–

All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.