Three individuals have been arrested on hate crime charges following an alleged attack on the Church of Scientology in Midtown earlier this month. The arrests came after the NYPD released footage of the incident, capturing the chaotic actions of the group.
Jaelen Dinkens, 19, and Mohammed Amolegbe, 21, face charges of burglary, criminal mischief, and assault, all classified as hate crimes. These charges were filed more than three weeks after the group of 31 people reportedly forced their way through a locked side door of the West 46th Street location during a seminar on May 2, according to law enforcement sources.
Tashaun Simms, 28, has been charged with obstructing governmental administration and tampering with physical evidence, sources revealed.
The NYPD released video footage showing the suspects, wearing backpacks and hoodies, appearing to smirk while entering the facility. The video captures them knocking over a storage container, nearly trampling each other, with one individual taking photos and another spraying silly string at a security camera.
The Church of Scientology reported that the damage inflicted by the group, which seemed to be motivated by a social media trend known as “speed running,” amounted to $10,000. During the incident, a 30-year-old male employee was kicked in the leg, although he sustained only minor injuries and was not hospitalized, according to police.
Although the police did not specify a motive for the attack, The Church of Scientology International, headquartered in Los Angeles, attributed it to a recent viral trend.
“Some online have referred to these incidents as ‘speed running.’ In reality, they involve organized trespasses into religious and public information facilities for social media attention,” the church said.
“A group of individuals forced their way into the Church of Scientology New York, broke a locked door to gain entry, and rushed into the building,” the church added.
“The disruption endangered staff, parishioners, and visitors, including individuals attending a seminar at the time. This was not a peaceful visit or lawful protest. It was a coordinated act involving forced entry, property damage, and physical aggression inside a house of worship.”
The incident in Midtown reflects a strange new TikTok trend known as “Scientology speed running,” which uses a video game term to describe groups of thrill-seekers and troublemakers filming themselves as they charge into properties associated with the Church of Scientology since early April.
