Medina man charged in break-in at Christmas museum Castle Noel

Castle Noel

A Medina man broke into the downtown Christmas museum Castle Noel on Sunday night, police said. The museum's owner said no displays or memorabilia were damaged.

MEDINA, Ohio – A Medina man broke into the popular Christmas museum Castle Noel on Sunday night and camped inside as armed police officers surrounded the building, police said.

Shawn Michael Bazan, 35, of Medina, is charged with breaking and entering in the incident at the museum on South Court Street near Liberty Street, police said.

Bazan broke out a window at Castle Noel and hid inside the museum, Medina Police Chief Edward Kinney said.

None of the museum’s props or displays were damaged, owner Mark Klaus said. But several windows were broken, and Klaus’ van was also damaged.

Klaus was enjoying a fireworks show with his family in Brecksville when he received alerts of a break-in at his museum. He, family members and Castle Noel staffers went to the museum and waited in anguish while authorities tried to apprehend Bazan.

“We were just petrified that this thing that we work on every single day, and love, was in jeopardy,” he said.

Castle Noel promotes itself as “America’s Largest Year-Round Indoor Christmas Entertainment Attraction.” The museum is home to props and costumes featured in famous Christmas movies such as “The Grinch” and “Elf,” according to its website.

Medina police officers arrived about 7:30 p.m. and found one of the Castle Noel’s windows broken out. They also saw Bazan inside the museum, Kinney said.

Officers from several agencies surrounded the building and tried to get Bazan to surrender. They eventually entered the museum and took him into custody without incident, Kinney said.

Bazan later admitted to investigators that he broke into several cars near South Jefferson Street, two blocks away from Castle Noel. That investigation is ongoing, and charges are forthcoming, police said.

The State Highway Patrol, Montville Township Police Department, and Medina County Sheriff’s Office assisted at the scene, Kinney said.

Klaus plans to show his appreciation to police officers and their families with a private event at Castle Noel. He is working with the Medina Police Department to schedule it sometime this month.

“We’re going to make it a Christmas in July for the men in blue,” Klaus said.

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