A man questioned by police about a vandalized Fort Worth church went to the damaged place of worship to clear his name and left in the pastor's good graces after they prayed together.
Jonathan Jimenez, 21, was questioned by police after he was arrested nearby on an unrelated warrant.
The damage to the church was extensive. Vandals broke out numerous windows, painted on walls and tried to set at least two fires.
Nobody has been arrested.
An NBC 5 News crew happened to be at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church, located near Texas Christian University, when Jimenez and his family walked in.
"(The police) kept on saying, 'Was it you? Was it you?'” Jimenez said. “And I said, 'No, it wasn't me.' This is why I'm here, to let you guys know, I'm innocent."
Jimenez said police took his fingerprints and samples of his DNA and released him after several hours.
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Jimenez said he was walking to a friend’s house when police spotted him and arrested him on a three-year-old warrant around 3 a.m.
Rev. Dr. Fritz Ritsch told Jimenez he believes him.
"I just want to say we are really sorry this happened this way, and I'm sure nobody meant any harm by it,” Ritsch said. “I want you to know I believe your story."
"I'm convinced you really didn't have anything to do with this and I'm sorry you got caught in the middle of this," Ritsch said.
Then they prayed together.
The pastor even invited Jimenez and his family to Sunday services.
"It took a lot of nerve to come over here, a lot of bravery, thank you for doing that,” the pastor said.
Jimenez said he lost his job because of news coverage linking him to the crime. Jimenez also said he's received threats because of the publicity.
Fort Worth police spokesman Sgt. Marc Povero said late Wednesday that Jimenez had never been named a suspect. But he added that nobody has been ruled in or out.
Surveillance photos released Wednesday evening show one of the vandals is clearly not Jimenez.
A second suspect wore a mask.
Police asked that anyone who recognizes the men to call detectives.
