Hillsborough: Twin brothers arrested in defacing of church

SEFFNER -- Twin brothers were arrested and charged with scrawling graffiti on walls and a door of a church Monday, Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies said.

According to authorities, Khachick and Edgar Sannamyan, both 21, used rocks to write messages in English and Armenian at the Spirit and Truth Ministry of Worship Church on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. They also wrote messages on the sidewalk in front of the church, located in a strip center, deputies said.

A witness called authorities and two deputies arrested the men about 11 a.m. Both were charged with criminal mischief.

Edgar Sannamyan tried to fight while being arrested and was additionally charged with assault on a law enforcement officer, deputies said. No bail was set for the men, who reside at 1911 MLK Blvd.

Debbie Carter, spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office, said the incident was not being investigated as a hate crime, even though the messages contained enough English that deputies could determine the slogans "targeted Christians."

"It's the same thing as graffiti," Carter said.

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