Vandal with HIV leaves blood at Seattle church

Published 9:33 am Monday, June 8, 2009

SEATTLE — Members of a Seattle congregation expect to be back in their church next Sunday after a biohazard team cleans up blood from a vandal with HIV and hepatitis C.

The Unity Church of God in Christ church held a prayer meeting Sunday in the parking lot. The Rev. James Hicks prayed for the man who was naked when he hurled himself through a window early Saturday and broke a trophy case, leaving blood splatters.

After police arrested the suspect, officers told church members he has the diseases that can be transmitted by blood and advised them to call a biohazard cleaning crew.

The suspect was treated and jailed. Church members say the man’s brother hanged himself on church property the first Sunday in June 29 years ago.