A woman is accused of burglarizing, and setting on fire a church in Santa Barbara County.
A fire alarm alerted authorities to a problem early Thursday morning, at St. John Newman Catholic Church in Santa Maria. Police arriving at the scene with firefighters just after 3 a.m. yesterday say they found Amanda Ruiz playing a piano in the church.
Firefighters quickly put out the small fire.
However, a window had been broken, a statue had been knocked over, and there was damage throughout the church.
Police say they arrested the 24 year old Santa Maria woman for arson, burglary, and vandalism. Officers say they found drug paraphernalia in the church.
