Two teens charged after Meher Spiritual Center vandalized

Two teenagers were arrested following the recent vandalism of a building at the Meher Spiritual Center, and officials there are now tightening security measures.

“Because this has happened, our radar is up. We want to get even more serious in making sure these places are safeguarded,” center spokesman Buz Connor said.

While the property is still a safe place, officials there said they want to take extra steps, such as adding surveillance to the vandalized building and others on the property, along with making sure their beach entrance is more secure, Connor said.

Horry County police responded about 9 p.m. Jan. 23 to the spiritual center at 10200 N. Kings Hwy., near the Myrtle Beach Mall. They met with the center’s director who reported the incident, which left at least $10,000 in damages to the property, according to a police report.

After investigating, police arrested Alan Michael Wodzenski, 17, of Myrtle Beach and charged him with malicious injury to a place of worship. He was arrested Tuesday morning and released from the J. Reuben Long Detention Center a few hours later on $10,000 bond, jail records show.

An unidentified 16-year-old was charged on Feb. 3, and he was given a juvenile summons and released to his grandparents, according to a police report.

“I really got a sense of a lot of anger and a whirlwind of energy that went through the place. Everything was turned upside down, and everything was smashed, and many things were broken,” Connor said after he surveyed the damage.

Authorities noted every window was busted out and glass doors were also shattered. When police went inside the building, they found antique furniture overturned and thrown around the room and discovered many broken pictures and frames, according to a police report.

Police also noted two fire extinguishers that were previously mounted near building exit doors had been moved and were found near walking paths close to the building.

On Jan. 23, the caretaker arrived about 7:45 p.m. and called the director after discovering the damage. Police spoke with the caretaker, who told them he believed the vandalism happened during the day because there are no lights around the building, authorities said.

“We feel bad for their families, and for them, really,” Connor said of the two arrested.

He said he didn’t think the teens had ties to the center, but wasn’t sure, and said police were still investigating the incident.

The center has suffered very minor vandalism over the years, but nothing to scale with the recent incident, Connor said.

Most congregants have reacted to the vandalism with a sense of shock and disappointment, but while it has been somewhat traumatizing, officials said they’re just glad the incident wasn’t worse, and that no one was there when the crime happened.

Some clean-up and restoration has been done, but the center is still working on repairs weeks after.

The vandalism was out of touch with the center’s message, which is one of love and service toward God and others, Conner said.

The vandalized building was a “sacred place” used for group meetings and meditations, which Meher Baba himself used during his lifetime (1894-1969).

The Conway building was once an old barn, bought and rebuilt on the property, and given special flourishes and finishes, Connor said. While the recent vandalism has spurred the center to take extra precautions, there won’t be any measures taken that intrude upon the welcoming and peaceful environment there, officials said.

The 500-acre spiritual center was founded in 1943 and dedicated to Indian-born spiritual leader Meher Baba in 1952. The center is used as a retreat for “rest, meditation, and the renewal of the spiritual life,” maintains a library of primarily religious, philosophical and inspirational books accessible to the public, holds group meetings for readings on Meher Baba teachings and “other universal truths,” and donates clothing and other necessities to the poor, according to the group’s website.

This story was originally published February 10, 2016 at 10:50 AM with the headline "Two teens charged after Meher Spiritual Center vandalized."