Another Social Media Trend or Just Teenagers? Unruly Hooded Teens Barged Inside Scientology Church, Three Get Arrested

The New York Police Department recently released surveillance footage of the moment when a group of teenagers barged into Midtown’s Church of Scientology. The suspects seem to be following the latest social media trend of speed running, where many teenagers run inside Scientology buildings and ransack the premises.

This particular incident in the NYC Scientology Church not only resulted in major damage to the premises but also left one person injured. With the release of the footage, the police have been able to nab three of the suspects, as visible in the clip.

The NYPD released a video showing a group of teenagers and young adults barging into the church. Most of them were wearing backpacks and hoodies as they trespassed on the property on May 24. Some could even be seen smirking as they nearly trampled one another while rushing through the narrow side entrance.

They knocked over a storage container, and one of them was seen spraying silly string on a surveillance camera that captured their movements.

Their actions later caused an estimated $10,000 in damage to the church. They reportedly broke chairs, threw books and vandalized the premises while a seminar was still underway. Moreover, a 30-year-old male employee was injured after one of them kicked him in the leg.

The incident of burglary was reported to the police after a 911 call was made shortly afterward. When officers arrived at the scene later in the afternoon, the group had already fled in an undisclosed direction and evaded arrest.

During the investigation, it was discovered that the 31-member group were able to enter the church by forcing it through one of its locked doors towards the side of West 46th Street.

Within a day, by May 24, the NYPD was able to succeed in nabbing three of the suspects as spotted in the surveillance footage. 19-year-old Jaelen Dinkens and 21-year-old Mohammed Amolegbe were arrested. They were charged with the hate crimes of burglary, criminal mischief and assault.

A third member of the ruffian group was 28-year-old Tashaun Simms. He was charged with obstructing governmental administration and tampering with physical evidence.

The statement from the NYPD read, “A group of unidentified individuals forcibly entered 227 West 46 Street through a side door. Once inside, the individuals ran throughout the premises and then fled the location on foot, traveling in an unknown direction. The incident resulted in approximately $10,000 worth of damage, and a 30-year-old male employee was kicked in the leg.”

In the wake of the incident, the NYC Scientology Church also issued a statement highlighting the trouble that the group put everyone in.

They expressed “The disruption endangered staff, parishioners and visitors, including individuals attending a seminar at the time. This was not a peaceful visit or a lawful protest. It was a coordinated act involving forced entry, property damage, and physical aggression inside a house of worship.”