Santa Ana Buddhist temple vandalism suspect arrested
SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- A woman who was caught on surveillance camera vandalizing a Buddhist temple in Santa Ana has been arrested, officials said.
Detectives said the woman, identified as 45-year-old Trang Thu Pham, had a personal problem against a person associated with the Hoc Tich Buddhist Temple. She told investigators that she has nothing against the Buddhist religion.
Temple officials said a woman was seen on surveillance footage throwing glass jars or bottles, at least 10 different times, at religious statues outside the temple.
Pham was arrested on Tuesday after a security officer at a CVS store in Costa Mesa recognized her from a story he saw on the news. He contacted law enforcement, and Costa Mesa officers responded to the store and detained Pham.
When detectives interviewed Pham, she admitted she was the person who was caught on surveillance camera vandalizing the temple.
Pham was booked into the Santa Ana Police Department Jail on suspicion of felony vandalism of a place of worship.
