Police on Wednesday arrested a suspect in the case of the downtown Portland church’s stolen tabernacle.
Portland State University police arrested 33-year-old Jacob C. Blanchard on allegations of burglary and trespassing and booked him into the Multnomah County Detention Center. He was released Friday, jail records show.
The tabernacle — a gold-painted, ornamented box important to parishioners at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church — was stolen from church property in late May, police said. Also stolen was the holy object inside. Both were recovered in June.
Blanchard was cited for meth possession in April and last August, court records show. He was twice convicted of theft in Washington County in 2021.
— Beth Slovic is a deputy editor on the public safety and breaking news team. Reach her at 503-221-8551 or bslovic@oregonian.com.
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