Man charged with defacing Pilsen church

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Robert Samar, 60, is charged with one felony count of criminal defacement of a place of worship for allegedly writing offensive words and drawing an offensive symbol on the front doors of a church in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, police said.

Police said Samar was seen on video surveillance defacing the doors of a church in the 2200-block of South Damen Avenue at about 4:45 a.m. on Oct. 2.

Pastor Emma Lozano, of the Lincoln United Methodist Church, said the graffiti included a swastika and threats to "kill and burn." The church caters toward the city's Latino community.

He is due in bond court Friday.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report