Black guy charged with hate crimes for spray painting racial slurs on black churches

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Lafayette Police and the FBI are investigating another church vandalism in Lafayette. Similarities to the St. James Baptist Church vandalism only a couple weeks ago are making them ask if it's a hate crime. And now an arrest that has been made.

Lafayette Police investigators have arrested Brian Toriano Crimiel, 33, of Lafayette in connection with the vandalism of the St. James Baptist Church. Investigations are still going on for the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church that happened Saturday. Crimiel is being charged with hate crimes, criminal damage to property by defacing with graffiti, and obstruction of justice and communication of false information of planned arson.

They're still investigating what happened this morning before police responded to the 800 block of Surrey Street to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and school. In a very similar case from only a couple weeks ago, the church was painted with numerous derogatory words on the buildings in the complex and also left a threatening note. Church members say they're disgusted about what happened to their historic church, but will pray for the suspects.

Several members of the church showed up before mass to help in cleaning up the graffiti. And representative Rickey Hardy has offered a $500 reward leading to the arrest and indictment of the culprit who is responsible.