Barnstable Police Arrest Church Hate Crime Perp

Careful and persistent investigative work by the Barnstable Police Detective Division has paid off with the arrest of a perpetrator involved in the Calvary Baptist Church - Hate Crime Vandalism case. The damage was discovered on the morning of May 22, 2007.

The case involved spray painting of the numbers “666” and an “upside down cross” on the front door of the Calvary Baptist Church, 25 Lincoln Road,  in Hyannis. This is on the corner of Lincoln and West Main Street across from Brooks Pharmacy.  

That same morning a swastika was spray painted on the garage door of Cape Cod Linen Service at 245 West Main Street, a short distance from the church, and graffiti resembling Budweiser Beer Crowns was painted on the building at Steve and Sues Ice Cream next door the laundry.  

John C. MacKeil age 18, was arrested at his home at 327 Arrowhead Drive, in Hyannis. He is also the focus of an investigation into property crimes relating to Breaking and Entering of a Motor Vehicle in the Nighttime and Larceny of a Motor Vehicle in Centerville.  MacKeil is known to the Barnstable Police Detective Division. A security camera at Cape Cod Linen helped to identify the suspect.  

Around the same time, Barnstable Police had been investigating Larceny of a Motor Vehicle and B&E complaints in Centerville. On June 14, an Elliot Road resident called police to report his Dodge Dakota truck stolen. The vehicle was recovered the same day at Covells Beach. The vehicle had been driven over a beach barrier and onto the beach.  

During the course of the investigation Barnstable Police Detective Dan Turner learned that property taken from the stolen truck was recovered at Christy’s Market on South Street. A check of the store’s video surveillance system showed MacKeil in the store at 4:00 AM and in possession of the property stolen from the Dodge Dakota Truck.  

Last night at about 10:30 PM,  Barnstable Police arrived at MacKeil’s home on Arrowhead Drive and placed him under arrest. While speaking to investigators, MacKeil admitted involvement with the spray painting incidents and the theft of the truck from Elliot Road in Centerville.  

MacKeil was held overnight at the Barnstable Police Department for his arraignment this morning in Barnstable District court. MacKeil is charged with Breaking and Entering in the Nighttime to Motor Vehicle which is a Felony, Malicious Destruction of Property over $250 a felony, Larceny of a Motor Vehicle, also a Felony and Vandalism of a Church – A Hate Crime.  

According to Barnstable Police the investigation is ongoing and more charges and arrests are expected.