Beverly Hills Mayor John Mirisch said in a statement: “The criminal who we believe desecrated a holy place on Shabbat is now in custody thanks to the superb work of the Beverly Hills Police Department. The Beverly Hills community is strong and will not be intimidated by despicable acts.”

LOS ANGELES—A 24-year-old Pennsylvania man has been arrested in Hawaii in connection with last weekend’s vandalism of the Persian Nessah Synagogue in Beverly Hills, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Anton Nathaniel Redding of Millersville has been charged with vandalism of a religious property and commercial burglary, charges that include a penalty enhancement for a hate crime, according to the Beverly Hills Police Department.

The break-in happened Saturday at the Nessah synagogue on Rexford Drive.Several rooms inside the building were ransacked and several Jewish relics were damaged but the outside of the building didn’t suffer any severe damage. Police added that no markings or other signs of anti-Semitism were left by the suspect who was captured on security footage but it would still be investigated as a hate crime.

Beverly Hills Police Chief Sandra Spagnoli announced the arrest of the suspect at a community town hall Wednesday night about the synagogue vandalism, news that prompted a standing ovation from the crowd. She said it was “one of the worst incidents that can happen to a community.”

She said Redding got into a cab after vandalizing the synagogue, went to Los Angeles International Airport and flew to Hawaii.

Beverly Hills police worked with Hawaiian authorities to arrest Redding in Kona. Authorities used closed-circuit recordings from the city to help identify and locate Redding.

Redding will remain in Hawaiian custody pending an extradition hearing to authorize his transfer to California.

Beverly Hills Mayor John Mirisch said in a statement: “The criminal who we believe desecrated a holy place on Shabbat is now in custody thanks to the superb work of the Beverly Hills Police Department. The Beverly Hills community is strong and will not be intimidated by despicable acts.”