Man accused of vandalizing temples released in NYC

Taihong Ouyang, a 49-year-old man, is accused of vandalizing six temples in Manhattan, including breaking a Buddha statue. He was arrested on Tuesday morning after the series of incidents. Ouyang faces charges of hate crime burglary and criminal mischief. In court, Ouyang was granted supervised release. This decision was influenced by recent changes in bail laws, which meant he was not eligible for bail on these charges. Ouyang reportedly told detectives he vandalized the temples because he disagreed with the way the monks operated. The vandalism began early Tuesday. Ouyang is accused of breaking windows at the Eldridge Street temple first, returning again to cause more damage. He also allegedly vandalized a Chinese acupuncture business connected to the Mahayana Buddhist Temple, among others. The destruction included smashing a religious statue and breaking security cameras. His vandalism spree ended at the Huang Da Xian Taoist Temple, where he threw a Buddha statue through a window, breaking both the statue and the glass. Ouyang was arrested after someone called 911 to report the damage. He has no previous arrest record. His next court date is set for April 30. James Lynch, Jr., vice president of the Buddhist Council of New York, expressed compassion for Ouyang, noting that he is homeless and may be struggling with mental health issues. He emphasized the importance of understanding and bringing people together rather than seeking punishment. Lynch also highlighted ongoing issues of crimes against the Asian community.