Haifa resident arrested after vandalizing church, spitting on police officer

Dean Mor admitted to the charges against him, but claimed that he had felt threatened both at the church and by the officer at the police station.

The Haifa Magistrate’s Court filed an indictment against Dean Mor, a 34-year-old Haifa resident, for vandalizing a church and assaulting a police officer on Friday.

According to the court’s indictment, Mor smashed a church window and, after being arrested by police, spat twice in the face of a Druze officer and yelled racist slurs at him.

The incident occurred on Sunday around eight in the morning. Mor entered the church before Sunday services and walked up to the priest’s pulpit when a member escorted him out of the building.

After he left, Mor threw a stone through one of the church's windows, shattering it, according to the court indictment.

Following Mor’s arrest and detention at the Haifa police station, he spat twice in the face of a Druze police officer and shouted racist slurs while waiting for a lawyer.

Mor admits to charges, claims he felt threatened

During his interrogation with police, Mor, who has no prior criminal record, admitted to the charges against him, but claimed that he had felt threatened at both the church and by the officer at the police station.

The court’s indictment did not allege a religious or hate crime motive to Mor’s actions. Along with its indictment this morning, the police prosecution unit asked the court to order Mor’s continued detention until the end of the proceedings.