Bennettsville Police arrested a Columbia man on Oct. 19 after he reportedly vandalized a local church.

At 7:10 a.m. on Oct. 19, police were dispatched to Word of Life Christian Center about a possible break-in with the subject still on scene.

Upon arrival, police found the front door propped open with a bundle of clothes. Inside the church, police saw several pictures knocked off the wall and could hear a male voice in the distance.

According to the police report, Randolph Douglas, 59, of Columbia, wore a white robe and carried a fire extinguisher. Police were able to subdue and put Douglas in handcuffs. At the same, the church pastor asked Douglas why he destroyed the church.

Douglas said, “because a woman should not be in the pulpit.”

According to the report, Douglas admitted entering the church “during the nighttime hours without permission and committed the crime.”

Damage to the church included broken dishes, food taken out of the freezer and cabinets, several broken items in the female restroom, and damage to the protective glass on the church sign in front of the church. The fire sprinkler was activated in the kitchen and caused a significant amount of damage to the floor.

The report noted that warrants would be obtained for burglary second degree and malicious damage to a place of worship for Douglas.