A 24-year-old man is in custody and could face criminal charges for damaging the roof of the mosque in downtown Rochester early this morning.
Police Capt. Brian Winters said authorities were called about 1:30 a.m. by person who saw someone on the roof of the mosque at 17 N. Broadway.
Winters said officers went onto the roof of an adjacent business to gain access. He said the Rochester man was taken into custody without incident. Winters said the man was intoxicated and was taken to the Crisis Receiving Unit. He could face criminal charges of damage to property and arson.
Winters said the man allegedly used a rock to break the outer shell of a skylight and then, using a lighter, started a 6-inch fire resulting in a small amount of scorching.
Winters said this was not a bias crime. He said the man was intoxicated and did not know where he was or what he was doing. Fire crews responded with an aerial ladder to help remove the man from the roof top.
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Deputy Fire Chief Lyle Felsch said firefighters inspected the rooftop and, in addition to the damage to the sky light, noted damage to two roof ventilators which had been torn off ventilation stacks.
