Cross Burned at Area Church

How many people passed it and looked the other way.

“8 last night I noticed it still had some smoke coming off it.”

St John’s is a church sits on the corner of 161st and  Hickory in Sapulpa. April Slaven says she reported the burning cross to the Creek County Sheriff’s Department. 

“I asked can they at least come and remove it cause I couldn’t get ahold of anybody who went to church here, so I called you guys.”

In 1999 April says her family attended the all black church and its members were loving like family.

“My dad put that cross up in the middle of night letting people know it was a church that’s why it means so much to me here.”

Over the years the church has been burglarized, windows broken out and rocks thrown at it damaging the siding and now a burned cross and symbol of racism and hatred.

“Were collecting evidence from the area to try to find out who done this.”

Sgt. Allen Harwood with the Creek County Sheriff’s Office is taking photos and collecting evidence. It appears pieces of cloth were used along with a flammable liquid to start the fire.
     
 ”This is unacceptable we don’t, I think should be allowed, we’re going to do our best to find out who done it.”

It’s what April wants too. 

“Cause I went to church here and they’re the sweetest people they invited us in no questions asked are they wouldn’t have done anything to anybody.”