UPDATE #2: Church Burglar Arrested (Photo)

July 05, 2024 15:47

  

On June 18, 2024, an arrest warrant was issued for Jacob C. Blanchard, 33, of Portland, for his involvement in the burglaries at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in May. On Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at 8:34a.m., Blanchard was arrested at Southwest 11th Avenue and Southeast Market Street by Portland State University Campus Public Safety officers. Blanchard was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on his warrant for two counts of Burglary in the First Degree, one count of Burglary in the Second Degree, one count of Theft in the First Degree, and one count of Criminal Trespass in the First Degree.

The Portland Police Bureau is grateful for the assistance of PSU Public Safety.

###PPB###

***Original Messages Below***

Last night, the Enhanced Community Safety Team, Special Emergency Reaction Team, and Crisis Negotiation Team served a search warrant in Southwest Portland related to the burglaries at St. Michael Church. During the warrant service, detectives received information about the last known location of the stolen monstrance. They followed up on that tip and were able to recover the monstrance in Northeast Portland. The monstrance was immediately returned to St. Michael Church. A photo of the recovered item is attached.

The investigation into the burglaries is continuing.

Photo description: golden monstrance

###PPB###

***Original Message Below***

A venerated receptacle stolen from a Catholic church during a burglary last month has been recovered, but another cherished item is still missing.

During the overnight hours of May 28th and May 29th, 2024, St. Michael the Archangel Church, 424 Southwest Mill Street, was burglarized, and items were stolen. One of them, a golden tabernacle made of wood, is precious to the church membership. They put up flyers around the neighborhood offering a reward for its return. On the morning of Saturday, June 15, 2024, the church was notified that a woman had the tabernacle and wanted to return it. The meeting was set, and PPB members from the Specialized Resources Division and Central Precinct ensured the tabernacle (photo) was recovered and the reward was provided. The woman who had it is not a suspect in the burglaries and is cooperating with the investigation.

The burglaries remain under investigation, and no one has been charged with the crimes. However, detectives believe the same suspect committed the burglaries.

Police and church members were not able to recover a sacrament, known as a monstrance. A photo of a similar item is attached. If anyone has information about the location of the monstrance, please contact Detective Carlos Ibarra at Carlos.Ibarra@police.portlandoregon.gov or call (503)823-0950. Please reference case number 24-130958.

Photo descriptions:
An ornamented gold tabernacle with engravings in Latin
A circular golden monstrance

###PPB###

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