Swastikas, '666' Painted on Metropolitan Ministries Building

Metropolitan Ministries in Holiday was hit by vandalism again this week, the second time since January.

According to a Pasco County complaint affidavit, sometime between Wednesday and Thursday, an unknown suspect or suspects entered the rear lot of the property located at 3214 U.S. 19 and used and “unknown red liquid” to paint swastikas and “666” on the exterior walls of a garage.

The vandalism in January involved similar graffiti—a cross and “666”— drawn “in what appeared to be a reddish-brown substance similar to that of dry blood,” according to the incident report.

During an interview in January, Metropolitan Ministries director Nancy Dougherty said it wasn’t the first time suspicious activity had been witnessed near the property, including shots fired, and “a stray dog found with an arrow on its rear end,” according to the report.

The dog was reported to Pasco County Animal services, which set a trap for it; the report stated.

The incidents are currently under investigation.

Anyone with any information about this case or the suspects is asked to contact Detective Jennifer Zoccoli at 1-800-854-2862, Ext. 7873.