A Cornelia man remains in jail charged with burglarizing and vandalizing a local church.
Habersham County deputies arrested 31-year-old Seth Pruitt in connection with an incident at Cool Springs Methodist Church on April 12. On that day, a 911 caller reported an open window at the church and a shirtless man outside acting suspiciously.
Deputy Ryan Kelley says when he approached the man, later identified as Pruitt, he ran into the woods, ignoring the deputy’s commands to stop. After a brief foot chase, deputies took Pruitt into custody and charged him with misdemeanor obstruction of an officer for fleeing.
The case was turned over to investigators who allege Pruitt broke into the church off State Route 17 and stole over $2,000 worth of audio/visual and computer equipment and other items used for worship. The arrest warrant states he also maliciously defaced the church by “breaking windows, overturning furniture, and scattering hymnals and other articles on the worship floor.”
Investigators charged Pruitt with 2nd-degree burglary, vandalism to a place of worship and obstruction. They also charged him in connection with an unrelated incident that occurred days earlier in which he allegedly stole a $600 kayak.
Pruitt is being held in the Habersham County Detention Center on a $13,600 bond.
