A New Year’s Day break in led to damage in City Hall rotunda, broken windows and the destruction of a menorah display, Mayor Karen Bass says
A Los Angeles man was arrested for smashing into City Hall, where he allegedly went on a destructive rampage, breaking windows and destroying a historic menorah in the building on loan for the holidays, Mayor Karen Bass said.
Bass emphasized that she does not believe the menorah vandalization constituted a hate crime, but that she was “deeply disturbed” that the Katowicz menorah on display in the third-floor rotunda was damaged. Bass said that windows, a glass display case, and computer equipment were also damaged in the break-in.
“While there is no indication that the vandalism to the menorah was a hate crime, I was deeply disturbed that this historic menorah was damaged,” Bass said. “I personally called the Cunin family, who each year generously loan the menorah to City Hall and the people of Los Angeles, to inform them of the incident.
Police have arrested a suspect, Jose Gonzalez Chavez, who is now awaiting charges pending a mental health evaluation. It is unclear how Chavez was able to not only access a sensitive building, but to create havoc for such a long period of time, which led the Mayor to say that she has ordered a full evaluation of security at City Hall.”