A series of Buddhist and Taoist temples in Lower Manhattan were left in disarray on Tuesday by a homeless man, according to police reports.
Taihong Ouyang, 49, has been charged with hate crime criminal mischief and burglary for his destructive actions at several temples, including the Sung Tak Buddhist Association on Pike Street near East Broadway where he reportedly used a fire extinguisher to damage religious items, as per cops and sources.
During his spree in Chinatown and the Lower East Side, Ouyang also targeted the Guanyinsi – World Buddhist Center on Henry Street near Rutgers Street, where he vandalized two security cameras, authorities and sources revealed.
He also caused damage at the Pu Chao Buddhist Temple on Eldridge Street near Canal Street, according to police.
Ouyang’s rampage came to an end just after 8 a.m. when he entered the Huang Da Xian Taoist Temple on the Bowery near Pell Street and vandalized numerous items inside, police said.
A bystander called 911 to report the vandalism, leading to Ouyang’s arrest by authorities.
Ouyang is also accused of vandalism at two other locations – one on Canal Street near the Bowery, and the other at East Broadway near Market Street, where two front doors were damaged, sources mentioned.
It’s uncertain whether those buildings are also places of worship.
It remains unclear when Ouyang began his spree and what motivated him to target the temples.
Ouyang’s arraignment was scheduled at Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday.
