Several people injured as man allegedly went on stolen crucifix rampage

Police in Ventura, California, arrested a 35-year-old man early on Thursday morning on suspicion of stealing crucifixes from a gift shop and using them to batter multiple victims.

Forrest Brantley allegedly broke into the Mission San Buenaventura gift shop shortly before 6am and left after taking two crucifixes, according to the Ventura Police Department. Brantley then allegedly accosted three victims as he made his way out of the parking lot.



Authorities said he approached each victim and asked to use the person’s phone before hitting them with a crucifix. At one point Brantley broke the window of a 75-year-old man who had been sitting in his car, officers said. The victim’s face was moderately injured and he was treated at a local hospital.

Brantley then allegedly proceeded to break the window of the Arc Foundation Thrift Store and steal a bicycle before striking a fourth victim with a crucifix. He was detained by officers shortly after 6am. Brantley was booked into the Ventura County Jail for multiple charges, including three counts of attempted robbery, two counts of commercial burglary, one count of assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of vandalism and one count of elder abuse.