Man suspected of stealing crucifix, smashing Fox 11 TV sign arrested in Wausau

ASHWAUBENON - A man suspected of stealing a crucifix from a church and using it to smash a local TV station's sign last week was arrested in Wausau after causing trouble there later that same day.

Brendan McSweeney, 29, of Chicago, was arrested Friday evening in Wausau in connection with a disturbance at a Wausau restaurant, according to an Ashwaubenon Public Safety news release.

McSweeney is believed to have stolen a crucifix that morning from Nativity of Our Lord Parish, 2270 S. Oneida St., which he used to smash an electronic business sign outside the WLUK Fox 11 television studios at 787 Lombardi Ave.

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A person who knows McSweeney called authorities on Monday to identify him and report his "bizarre behavior." That helped Ashwaubenon police determine McSweeney had been arrested and was in the Marathon County Jail.

McSweeney's run-ins with the law started about 8:45 a.m. Friday, when Ashwaubenon officers were called to the church for a report that a man was acting strangely inside the building. The man sat at a piano, lit a cigarette and asked to speak with the clergy before he fled with a crucifix. McSweeney is accused of later using the crucifix to damage Fox 11's sign.

According to a Marathon County criminal complaint, Wausau police were called just before 6 p.m. for a report that McSweeney was smoking in the restaurant and eating other people's food. He got into a scuffle with an employee before leaving. He then returned to throw objects at the restaurant's windows.

When police caught up with him nearby, he was yelling profanities and refused to follow instructions. He was subdued with a Taser and taken into custody.

McSweeney was charged Monday in Marathon County Court with criminal damage to property, resisting arrest and two counts of disorderly conduct.

He is expected to be charged in Brown County with two counts of misdemeanor disorderly conduct, along with felony theft, criminal damage to property and damage of a religious property.