COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A man accused of burglary after allegedly ransacking a North Central Columbus church was arrested after police followed snow footprints to a nearby bus stop Tuesday afternoon.
According to court documents an assistant pastor at the Temple of Faith church on Brentnell Avenue was checking on the pipes at around 12:30 p.m., due to cold temperatures. The pastor told police he noticed the front door was hard to open.
Upon walking inside, he noticed debris was blocking the doorway and items were “in disarray” in the office area of the church. The pastor called police and noticed a man in the lobby of the church. The suspect, later identified as Brandon Burroughs Jr., fled the scene.
Officers arriving at the scene were able to track footprints in the snow from the church to a nearby bus stop, where Burroughs Jr. was sitting. Police took the pastor to the bus stop, where he positively identified Burroughs Jr. as the man he saw in the lobby.
Police found bank deposit slips in the pocket of Burroughs Jr., who was arrested and charged with burglary. A Franklin County Municipal Court judge issued him a $200,000 bond and scheduled a preliminary hearing for Jan. 24.