A New Hampshire man, identified as 36-year-old Paul Lopez of Manchester, is facing multiple charges after allegedly breaking into Our Lady of the Cedars Church in Manchester. Police responded to a burglar alarm at the church on Sunday around 9 p.m. The first officer on the scene observed Lopez banging on a window from inside the church. Additional law enforcement officers were called to the scene as Lopez refused to comply with requests to come out.
Despite warnings that a police K9 was present, Lopez continued to yell and shout expletives. The dog was deployed into the building, but Lopez grabbed the animal and began strangling it. After significant difficulty, officers were able to apprehend Lopez, during which one officer was seriously bitten and another officer and trooper were assaulted.
Lopez has been arrested and charged with burglary, second-degree assault, simple assault, animal cruelty (police dogs or horses), resisting arrest/detention causing serious bodily injury, and resisting arrest.
