School Safety News - Last 25 Incidents

Volunteer firefighter from Abilene charged with Hamby church arson

Tue, 15 May 2012 09:57:00 -0600

Arson - Abilene, TX
A lieutenant with the Hamby Volunteer Fire Department faces a charge of first-degree arson after setting a church on fire, authorities allege. Taylor Dupree Partain, 24, of Abilene was arrested about 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, about eight hours after starting a fire at the Hamby United Methodist Church, 128 CR 503, according to the Taylor County Sheriff\\\\\\\\\'s Office. No motive for starting the blaze was offered by the department. It was unknown Tuesday afternoon if Partain is the only suspect. Stan West, a trustee of the church congregation, said Tuesday that Partain was not a member of the church and \\\"as far as I know there was no animosity between us.\\\" West said the north wall of the church was damaged around a window; damage to part of a carpet and charred ceiling tiles amounted to a total of $25,000 in damages, he said. Church services will continue as scheduled Sunday, said West. According to the sheriff\\\\\\\\\'s department, Partain admitted starting the blaze. Hamby VFD Chief Ray Watson said the fire is devastating to his department of 12 firefighters.\\\"Me and my whole bunch are hurt,\\\" he said. \\\"We pride ourselves as being the premiere firefighting department in our area.\\\" Partain, he said, has been volunteering his services since May 2008. Starting off as an officer, Partain most recently held the title of command line lieutenant. Custody records as of Tuesday afternoon show Partain is being held at the Taylor County Jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

Corroded cord started Hyannis church fire

Mon, 14 May 2012 10:27:00 -0600

Fires - Hyannis, MA
HYANNIS â€” A fire that caused heavy damage at Calvary Baptist Church on Tuesday was caused by corrosion on an extension cord that overheated and ignited blankets used by a person living there, according to fire officials. The cord, which was located under a bed in a room behind the church altar, had three outlets, one of which was corroded, Hyannis Deputy Fire Chief Dean Melanson said. Related Stories Fire is Hyannis couple\\\\\\\\\'s latest challenge The electricity running through the restricted outlet caused it to heat up, much like when a major highway being reduced from three lanes to two makes it more difficult to keep traffic moving, Melanson said. There were no major injuries in the fire, although a firefighter rolled his ankle while responding to the blaze. The fire started at about 11:20 p.m., sending the five people living in the church out into the street. Church officials did not have the appropriate permit to have people living in the building, according to town officials. Houses of worship are allowed under state building and fire regulations to provide temporary overnight shelter to people as long as the meet certain criteria and file the appropriate paperwork with their town. The fire department verbally passed information along to the building department about the people living in the building after performing an annual inspection unrelated to the shelter program Feb. 22, Melanson said. Barnstable Building Commissioner Thomas Perry, however, said Thursday that if he had learned about the situation he would have acted to move the people out of the church or work with officials there to bring it into compliance with regulations. \\\"The information was never given to me by the fire department,\\\" Perry said, adding that it may have been relayed verbally to someone in his office, but any written reports would have been in the file for the property. A review of the file for the church by the Times found no major violations or mention of the people living there. Churches fall into a use category that, until recently, required inspections only every five years, Perry said. An inspection of Calvary Baptist was planned this year, he said, adding that a change in the regulations last year requires annual inspections of such buildings in the future.adjusters met with fire officials at the church Friday, according to the Rev. Bruce Smith. A meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at the Federated Church of Hyannis to discuss ways to provide meals for people who were previously served by programs at Calvary Baptist Church. The Greater Boston Food Bank also will come to Hyannis to set up a mobile pantry for people who picked up food from the church\\\\\\\\\'s pantry three days a week, Smith said. Dianna Curry, a spokeswoman for the food bank, said the mobile market would be open from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday in the Calvary Baptist parking lot at 25 Lincoln Road. She said it expects to serve 300 people. Most of the people living in the church have found other places to stay, Smith said. Another church has offered temporary shelter for one of the people, but one other person is still in need, he said. Smith acknowledges he has been housing people in the building for years, even though he did not have the appropriate permits to do so. Earlier this week he said he would discontinue the practice. Smith maintained Friday that he will rebuild despite extensive damage to the church. \\\"I know we will,\\\" he said.

Elderly Security Guard Shot to Death Outside Detroit Church

Wed, 09 May 2012 20:45:00 -0600

Active Shooter - Intruder - Detroit, MI
DETROIT (WJBK) -- \\\"Little did they know, they didn\\\\\\\\\'t have to rob him. If they\\\\\\\\\'d asked him, he\\\\\\\\\'d of gave it to them from the money in his pocket, the shoes off his feet, even a ride home. That\\\\\\\\\'s the kind of guy he was,\\\" said Dewitt McGowan. He was remembering 84-year-old Joseph Lewis, the kindhearted security guard gunned down outside Victory Way Assembly Church on Tireman around 8:45 Wednesday night as bible study was underway inside. \\\"He was standing out there securing the church, and the next minute he got shot,\\\" said Wilhemina Shumate. She owns a store across the street. Just minutes earlier, she had taken some corned beef over to Lewis, her good friend. Then her relatives saw a flash, two young men running and Lewis on the ground. \\\"They saw the flash. They said he was hit in the chest, fell back on his back and died right there,\\\" McGowan said. It could have been a robbery attempt that went bad. Lewis still had his money and his gun -- a good guy who looked out for everybody. \\\"This man, 84, looking to do something right. He didn\\\\\\\\\'t come out here to try to hurt anybody. He didn\\\\\\\\\'t bother anybody. He was out here minding his business trying to help,\\\" said Joseph Phillips, Junior. \\\"He\\\\\\\\\'s a good guy. I just talked to him last week. He said, \\\\\\\\\'I\\\\\\\\\'m just trying to look out for this church,\\\\\\\\\'\\\" another said. \\\"It\\\\\\\\\'s kids, old people, they\\\\\\\\\'re messing with everybody. It\\\\\\\\\'s getting hard,\\\" said Terry Robinson. \\\"I hope they catch the people real quick because they might come after me or you next,\\\" said T.J. Lewis. A frightening reality and a scathing commentary on our society when an old man looking out for the safety of others is murdered in a church parking lot. \\\"I\\\\\\\\\'m devastated. I really, really am,\\\" said Sally Rudoph. This is yet another tragic example of the senseless violence plaguing this city. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. You can remain anonymous.

Church murderer killed by off-duty officer was on early release

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 11:00:00 -0600

Active Shooter - Intruder - Aurora, CO
AURORA, Colo. â€” A man who shot and killed a woman at a Colorado church before he was killed by an off-duty police officer had been released early from an Oklahoma prison after serving time for assaulting an officer, authorities said Tuesday. Aurora police identified the suspect as 29-year-old Kiarron (kee-AIR-ehn) Parker of Denver. Records show he was convicted in 2009 in Oklahoma for assaulting a police officer and for burglary. Trouble viewing the video? Download Flash player here Investigators say Parker sped into the parking lot of New Destiny Center church in Aurora on Sunday and shot and killed Josephine Echols, the mother of a pastor at the church. An off-duty Denver police officer who was attending a church service then shot and killed Parker, authorities said. Investigators have not said why they think the gunman sped into the parking lot, crashed into a car and started firing at people who came to his aid. Parker originally was to serve a prison sentence on his Oklahoma convictions through 2021. But the sentence was suspended in November after he completed education and substance abuse programs, said Jerry Massie, a spokesman for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. Massie said Parker served time from December 2009 to November. Oklahoma closed Parker\\\\\\\\\'s case in December. Massie said the corrections department started making arrangements for Parker to be supervised when he transferred to Colorado but that an Oklahoma court ultimately decided not to place him under supervision. Parker also served about three years in the Colorado prison system for possessing a controlled substance in Arapahoe County. He was discharged in November 2008, said Colorado Department of Corrections spokeswoman Katherine Sanguinetti. According to Colorado court records, Parker most recently pleaded guilty on April 13 to driving with a suspended license â€” a case that stemmed from a January 2009 citation for failing to stop at a stop sign. He was due to be sentenced in August.

Church burglarized; Suspect jailed

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 11:45:00 -0600

Burglary - Belton, TX
BELTON - A 46 year old Belton woman is being held in the Bell County Jail accused of burglarizing a church. Belton police say that the Christ the King Church in the 200 block of East 2nd in Belton was broken into about 1:30 am on January 30th. About $1,200 in cash was taken. Wendy Ann Abel was arrested following a traffic stop Monday. Initially she told police she had been robbed by another man who was stopped in the same traffic stop when the two cars were spotted driving erratically on 13th street. Police say the recovered money was traced back to the church burglary. Abel was reportedly a former employee of the church

Man charged with burglary after pastor spots stolen guitars at store

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 06:15:00 -0600

Burglary - Racine, WI
RACINE â€” A 37-year-old Racine man was charged in circuit court on Monday with burglarizing a local church. Timothy N. Burdick, of the 2300 block of Webster Street, was charged with burglary and misdemeanor theft for allegedly entering Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, 2049 Summit Ave., on Jan. 31 and taking two guitars. In a different case he is charged with felony ID theft and misdemeanor theft for reportedly taking a manâ€™s driverâ€™s license and credit card from an unlocked car on Feb. 8. If convicted of all charges Burdick faces a maximum penalty of 32 years in prison or a $55,000 fine, or both. According to the criminal complaint filed in court, Burdick forced open the front door of the church between 4:30 and 5 p.m. He told police he sold the guitars and bought food with the money and also said he suffers from a bad addiction to crack cocaine. Burdick sold the guitars to a local store where a pastor from the church spotted them, the complaint said. Burdick was stopped by police while riding a bicycle and carrying a TV. The television was dropped by other men, Burdick told police, but he was carrying the identification and credit card of another man who had reported those documents stolen from his car, according to reports. Bond was set at $40,000 cash total, $20,000 for each of his two felony cases. Burdickâ€™s preliminary hearing, at which the state must show cause to hold him for trial, was set for Feb. 22.

Church Burglar Gets Reeseâ€™s Peanut Butter Cups

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 03:45:00 -0600

Burglary - Blue Springs, NE
The Gage County, Nebraska sheriffâ€™s office is investigating a church burglary. The good news is that nothing significant was taken. The bad news is that whoever had a hunger for their Reeseâ€™s Peanut Butter Cups left at the church will have to get another one. Sometime between 1pm Sunday and 10am Monday, someone threw a brick through a window of the Methodist Church at 112 West Broad Street in Blue Springs, Nebraska. A cash box was found opened. Church staff informed investigators that they donâ€™t keep money at the church, so the burglar would have found nothing inside. Church staff was able to determine that the burglar ate the candy while in the church. Anyone with information about who might be responsible for damage done to the church is asked to call the Gage County Sheriffâ€™s office at (402) 223-5221. Ask for Investigators John Chavez or call Crimestoppers at (402) 228-4343. Those who provide a tip can remain anonymous. If the information provided leads to an arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible could be eligible for a cash reward.

Property damage

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:48:00 -0600

Vandalism - Wheaton, IL
Graffiti was reportedly painted on the exterior of the Church of the Resurrection, in the 900 block of W. Union Ave., sometime between Jan. 30 and Feb. 5.

VANDAL TEARS UP BIBLE, DESECRATES COMMUNION BREAD & STEALS $10,000 DURING VICIOUS TX CHURCH ATTACK

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 08:56:00 -0600

Vandalism - Irving, TX
A crook has wreaked major havoc on a church in Irving, Texas, after he viciously vandalized its sanctuary and stole thousands of dollars. The startling attack on Iglesia Santa Maria de Guadalupe, a Lutheran church, left windows broken and a church community shaken up last weekend. The Rev. Pedro Portillo, the faith leader at the church, described the disturbing anti-religious elements of the crime, saying â€œThe guy who [got] into the church, he did a lot of disgraceful things.â€ Among the most noteworthy damages, the vandal ripped up a Bible, broke an angel on the churchâ€™s altar and threw communion bread on the floor. The criminal stole a total of $10,000 from the churchâ€™s safe and donation box. Considering the house of worshipâ€™s need to pay rent and bills â€” not to mention any charitable work that the money would have helped conduct â€” this is a staggering loss. But, for Portillo, itâ€™s not about the money. â€œFor us, in our faith, this is Jesus,â€ Portillo said, as he held communion bread. â€If he came to get the money, he could get the money. Money, we can make itâ€¦But what they did to the altar, to our faith â€” that more hurt for the people.â€ Surveillance video of the crime shows the man walking around the church with a flashlight. It is this video that Portillo hopes will help bring the individual behind the destruction and thievery to justice.

Brooklyn Church Vandalized with \\\\\\\\\'KISS Masks\\\\\\\\\'

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 08:56:00 -0600

Vandalism - Brooklyn, NY
Maintenance workers at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Williamsburg discovered a perpetrator wrote â€œf-ckâ€ on a bible, broke a statue of St. Judge and defaced a statue of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus with what appears to be KISS masks. The staff called police at 8 a.m. Wednesday upon seeing the statuesâ€™ faces resembling the masks worn by KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. Parishioners are outraged, considering the statues have been a part of the church for over sixty years. The graffiti writers also knocked over a different statue and scrawled what appears to be the word, â€œMykeeâ€ on Jesusâ€™ robe. â€œThereâ€™s been a lot of people willing to pay for the repairs,â€ Pastor Joseph Calise told the Brooklyn Paper. â€œWe donâ€™t know if it is an act of anger, grief, vandalism or stupidity.â€ The police are investigating the incident as a hate crime. â€œIt is just plain destruction of sacred property that speaks of peace, love, and hope for everyone,â€ Assemblyman Joseph Lentol said to the Brooklyn Paper. â€œThe thugs may not realize it is a felony, and I know our District Attorney would be anxious to enforce the law.â€ KISS did release several popular singles in the late 70s with religious undertones, including â€œHotter than Hell,â€ â€œGod Gave Rock â€™n Roll to You,â€ â€œGod of Thunderâ€ and â€œLiving in Sin.â€

Jesse Gates With Shotgun Disrupts Church Service, Disarmed By Congregation

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 12:00:00 -0600

Active Shooter - Intruder - Boiling Springs, SC
BOILING SPRINGS, S.C (AP) -- A shotgun-toting man kicked in a church door during Sunday services before being disarmed by congregants who saw the armed man coming through the church windows, locked the doors, and sprang on him after he burst inside, sheriff\\\\\\\\\'s deputies said. No one was hurt at the Southside Freewill Baptist Church in Boiling Springs, a community in Spartanburg County. Deputies charged Jesse Gates, 38, with burglary, disturbing a place of worship, and attempted kidnapping. The kidnapping charge was lodged because Gates allegedly pointed his weapon at the church pastor, resulting in his being restrained, Spartanburg County Sheriff\\\\\\\\\'s spokesman Lt. Tony Ivey said. Congregants spotted Gates approaching across a parking lot and locked the doors, Ivey said. When Gates kicked in a side door, a half-dozen members hiding in the wings jumped him, Ivey said. Gates told reporters as he was led away in handcuffs to a patrol car taking him to jail that his children had been taken away and he was trying to get someone to listen to him. Gates said he asked the church for help, but was frustrated. \\\"I\\\\\\\\\'ve been praying, begging,\\\" Gates said. \\\"They won\\\\\\\\\'t let me see my children. I tried everything. What can you do?\\\" Gates\\\\\\\\\' sister, Amanda Gates, 34, was charged with providing her brother with the shotgun and driving him to the church. Gloria Gates said her son Jesse had been attending the church for a short time. Gloria Gates said she spoke to her daughter Amanda, who told her she didn\\\\\\\\\'t know what Jesse planned.Spartanburg County Sheriff\\\\\\\\\'s deputies said no one was hurt Sunday at the Southside Freewill Baptist Church in Boiling Springs. Deputies charged Gates with burglary, disturbing a place of worship, and attempted kidnapping. The kidnapping charge was lodged because he allegedly pointed his gun at the pastor. Officers charged 34-year-old Amanda Gates with providing her brother with the shotgun and driving him to church. Gates told reporters as he was led away in handcuffs that his children had been taken away and he was trying to get someone to listen to him

Jesus statue decapitated outside Boston church

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Vandalism - Boston, MA
POLICE in the US are hunting vandals who decapitated a statue of Jesus outside a Roman Catholic church in Boston. Reverend Jack Ahern, from the Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta at St Margaret\\\\\\\\\'s Church, discovered the statue had been vandalised on Sunday morning, The Boston Globe said. \\\"The head was to its side in multiple pieces,\\\" Ahern told the newspaper. \\\"It\\\\\\\\\'s almost like he whacked the head first and then pushed it off its base.\\\" He added, \\\"The statue was right by the sidewalk ... kids and adults would walk by and touch the hand of Jesus.\\\" The statue is thought to be beyond repair, and the church has not discussed replacing it yet, Ahern said. Boston police confirmed they received a report of vandalism and said they will investigate.

Desecration At Church Leads NYC Pastor To â€˜Evictâ€™ Occupy Wall Street

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:59:00 -0600

Vandalism - New York, NY
West Park Presbyterian Church (credit: James Russiello / Wikipedia Commons) Filed Under Heard On 1010 WINS, WCBS, WFAN, Local, News, NY News, OWS, Politics, Syndicated Local, Watch + Listen Related Tags Baptismal Font, Occupy Wall Street, Protesters, Rev. Robert Brashear, Sonia Rincon NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) â€” When the bronze lid of the baptismal font disappeared from the West Park Presbyterian Church on W. 86th Street, Rev. Robert Brashear confronted the nearly 60 Occupy Wall Street protesters whoâ€™d been sleeping there. â€œI, in my upset, talked about the fact that even in the 1980s when we had a lot of crack addicts etc. in the neighborhood, and even robbing people in the church, that particular religious symbol had never really been disturbed before,â€ Brashear said. â€œI tried to make clear that I donâ€™t believe in collective punishment but I do believe in collective accountability and responsibility,â€ he addedrashear gave them 24 hours to come up with a response. They agreed to find other places to stay within two weeks, and to find an artisan who can make a replacement for the sacred piece if they donâ€™t find it. â€œWhich I think would be a beautiful solution if that would come about,â€ said Brashear. The pastor says he still supports the protest. â€œI donâ€™t think you can blame the movement for not being able to deal with the issues of people that our culture and society has not been able to deal with, eitherâ€ he said. In the first week the group was there, his computer also went missing. The group promised to reimburse him.

Man confesses in church thefts

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 09:30:00 -0600

Thefts and Scams - West, TX
The Texas County Sheriffâ€™s Department has received a confession from a man who has implicated himself, his son and his girlfriend as being responsible for damage and theft at the Hopewell Church in western Texas County. The man (who is reportedly from Arkansas) and his two accomplices are thought to be responsible for numerous church vandalisms and thefts throughout southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. The three were apprehended and held Thursday in Howell County while authorities there investigated cases the suspects were thought to have been involved in. Lt. Melissa Dunn said that when the TCSD received notification of the arrests, there was reason to believe the trio was responsible for unsolved cases in Texas County. Deputies traveled to Howell County to conduct interviews, and the confession was received. The item stolen from the Hopewell Church has been recovered, but Dunn said other items were dumped in a river and have not been located due to high water from recent rains. A probable cause statement has been sent to the Texas County prosecuting attorney for charges. The suspects, who are thought to have relatives in Wright County and southeast Texas County, are being held in the Howell County Jail.

Burglars caught robbing Church Without Walls, again

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 20:30:00 -0600

Burglary - Lakeland, FL
Lakeland, Florida -- A trio of robbers must not have gotten all they came for from a Lakeland church Wednesday. The three were caught in the act Thursday night hitting up the same church again. According to Lakeland Police, a Community Response Team saw the black pickup truck drive up to the back of Carpenter\\\\\\\\\'s Home Church Without Walls around 8:30 p.m. Thursday and force themselves inside the building through a side door. The burglars were seen removing several large items and place them in the bed of the truck. The response team stopped them as they tried to drive away. The team was monitoring the area after the same church was robbed Wednesday. Kolette Johnson, 27, Nicholas Sheldon, 24, and Morgan Patton, 22, all of Lakeland, were each charged with Burglary, Grand Theft, and Possession of Burglary Tools in connection with a Burglary.

Morning Rush: Two more Hoboken churches report thefts of copper drain pipes

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Thefts and Scams - Hoboken, NJ
The day after the priest at Our Lady of Grace Church reported that sections of copper drain pipes had been ripped off the church, two more Hoboken institutions reported being similarly victimized. An elderly man was hit by an NJ Transit bus when he was crossing Washington Street in front of Hoboken City Hall around 8 p.m. today. He is being taken to Jersey City Medical Center to evaluate his injuries. A city resident prevented the possible theft of a vehicle early Monday and helped cops nab four suspects, police said.

Minister appears in court on sexual assault charges after missing teen found in Monette

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:00:00 -0600

Sex Offenses - Monette, AR
MONETTE, AR (KAIT) â€“ A minister facing sexual assault charges appeared in a Craighead County courtroom Friday. According to the Craighead County Prosecutor\\\\\\\\\'s Office, Charles Hughes had his case continued to August 24, with a tentative trial set for September 25. According to the Craighead County Sheriff\\\\\\\\\'s Department, Charles Hughes was arrested on March 21 after a cell phone ping from a missing 17-year-old Nebraska girl hit in a mobile home park in Monette. The teenager told Region 8 News off camera that she is the cousin of Hughes\\\\\\\\\' wife. The teenager had changed her appearance, and went on to say she was not kidnapped and came to Arkansas on her own free will. Deputies say she was found at 310 Braden Drive in Monette. The Monette Police Department was contacted in March by Nebraska authorities in regards to the missing 17-year-old girl from Fairbury, Nebraska. Local authorities had been searching for the girl ever since. Deputies say a woman in Monette alerted them of the missing girl after receiving an e-mail alert from Region 8 News. \\\"When I received that alert on my cell phone from Ch. 8 as breaking news, my heart broke because I thought I recognized her. I did alert the city police here in Monette as soon as I recognized her picture,\\\" said the neighbor, who requested to remain anonymous. The neighbor said the teen was a tenant at one of her rental properties. The FBI is also involved and exploring state and federal charges. Hughes was the minister at Monette Church of Christ, and was terminated after the arrest. Hughes is charged with sexual assault in the first degree, obstructing governmental operations, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Hughes\\\\\\\\\' bond was set at $100,000 and he is set to appear again in court on August 24. Region 8 News will continue to track this developing story and being you the latest details as soon as they become available.

Corsicana youth minister arrested for alleged sexual assault

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 12:30:00 -0600

Sex Offenses - Corsicana, TX
CORSICANA â€“ Many describe Gary Welch as a popular youth minister at Corsicanaâ€™s Northside Baptist Church. A man, church members say, who was just as eager to embrace a child as to counsel them. \\\"Gary was always cool with us,\\\" said Devan Putman, 15. Sheâ€™s been a member of the churchâ€™s youth group for as long as Welch was its leader. \\\"[He was] always giving us hugs and high-fiving us,\\\" she said. \\\"I just couldnâ€™t believe it.\\\" Late Monday afternoon, Corsicana police officers arrested Welch, 42, at the church on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child. He remains in jail on a $150,000 bond. Police would not clarify if the girl was a member of the church, but said they are investigating whether there could be more alleged victims. \\\"We just want to be diligent,\\\" said Corsicana Police Chief Randy Bratton. \\\"Right now, we donâ€™t have any indication there are additional victims.\\\" Court documents say a 16-year-old girl came forward to police on Saturday after she confided to her aunt she had been sexually assaulted by Welch for more than two years - since she was 13 years old. Court documents say the abuse \\\"happened numerous times at several different locations\\\" and that the two last had intercourse on New Yearâ€™s Eve. Two days later, Jan. 2, Welch wrote about sin and evil on his Facebook page. He referenced a Bible verse, Romans 6:13, about not letting \\\"any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin.\\\" Welch posted, \\\"In sin, every part of our bodies is vulnerable. In Christ, every part can be an instrument for service.\\\" Toby Thornton said he had his suspicions about Welch three years ago, when he realized the youth minister was showing interest in his teenage stepdaughter.\\\"This guy was texting our daughter at all hours of the day and night,\\\" he said. \\\"He was going to school, eating with her at lunchtime... Seems like it exceeded the scope of a youth minister.\\\" Thornton says he never saw anything sexual, but pulled his stepdaughter out of the church and complained to the pastor, Rick Lamb. \\\"It kind of fell on deaf ears,\\\" he said. \\\"He kind of blew our concerns off and said that [Welch] was a very kind and loving man.â€ He said officers interviewed his stepdaughter the morning after the arrest. Lamb declined to speak with News 8. He released a statement, saying the church was \\\"shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the arrest.\\\" Northside is one of the largest churches in Corsicana. Every Sunday, hundreds fill its soaring sanctuary. Welch joined the church in 2005 and lived steps away with his wife and two sons. His online biography says he grew up in the West Texas town of Munday, where his mother was the church secretary. After moving to North Texas as a teenager, he ministered at churches in Forreston, Palmer and Ennis. His bio says he was attending Navarro Junior College and hoped to eventually get a Masters in religion. His family in Corsicana declined to speak with News 8. Neighbors say despite his prominent role in the community, the minister didnâ€™t mingle with the people living on his street. \\\"He was a real quiet man - really quiet,\\\" said neighbor Joe Reed. The neighborhood is the kind where many leave their front door open during the day. \\\"Itâ€™s a very big betrayal,\\\" said neighbor Jeanie Burkholder. \\\"The kids are all taught to look up to a man like him... Itâ€™s hard to respect anyone like that

Arson Suspected in Buffalo MO Church Fire

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 04:00:00 -0600

Arson - Buffalo, MO
(Buffalo, MO) -- Arson is now suspected in a morning church fire in Buffalo. Fire Chief Erich Higgins tells KOLR/KOZL that evidence at the scene of Our Savior Lutheran Church leads investigators to believe it was intentionally set. It took 17 firefighters about 45 minutes to battle the blaze at Elder and Commercial around 4 a.m. A neighbor heard a pop and called in the report. When crews arrived, about 50 percent of the building was in flames. The fire started in the back part of the building. Chief Higgins says the building is a total loss. Crews from Prairie Grove assisted. No one was in the church at the time of the fire and no firefighters were injured.

Ex-Rowan church officer charged with embezzlement

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:45:00 -0600

Internal Embezzlements - East Spencer, NC
A former church officer has been charged with illegally taking money from the church in Rowan County, the sheriffâ€™s office says. Deputies arrested James Neely on Monday and charged him with felony embezzlement. Neely had been financial director of Shady Grove Baptist Church in East Spencer when the church discovered funds missing late last September. According to the sheriffâ€™s office, church officials contacted deputies and East Spencer Police after finding that money was missing. An investigation that lasted several months led deputies to Neely, the sheriffâ€™s office says. Investigators have not said how much money was involved. Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact Sheriffâ€™s Detective Jason Owens, at 704-216-8700. Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/03/20/3112488/ex-rowan-church-officer-charged.html#storylink=cpy

Parishoner charged with church theft

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:15:00 -0600

Burglary - Caledonia, MI
CALEDONIA TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WZZM) -- A 75-year-old member of a Caledonia Township church is facing charges for allegedly stealing from the collection. Kent County deputies say Conrad Spiegel turned himself in at the Kent County Jail on Monday. He appeared in 63rd District Court, where he was formally charged with \\\"breaking and entering into a building with intent.\\\" Previous Coverage: Church member in trouble for taking from collections Investigators say Spiegel was caught taking money from the collections envelope in the safe at Holy Family Catholic Church, 9669 Kraft Ave. SE. According to deputies, Spiegel admitted during police interviews to taking money from the church on three separate occasions, but the amount taken was less than $100. He reportedly told detectives he had taken the money from the collection to put into a specific fund. Spiegel was released without bond Monday.

3-alarm fire rips through Tualatin church

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 03:15:00 -0600

Fires - Tualatin, OR
TUALATIN, OR (KPTV) - Fire investigators are trying to determine what caused a massive fire that ripped through a church early Monday morning. The fire started around 3:15 a.m. at the Living Savior Lutheran Church & Living Savior Preschool, located at 8740 SW Sagert St. Upon arrival, firefighters saw heavy smoke and flames coming from the roof. Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue crews had initially gone inside the church but, because of the size of the fire, they soon backed out to take a defensive strategy. Firefighters sprayed water from ladders above the blaze. Fire crews had most of the fire extinguished within 90 minutes, but they continued to battle hard-to-reach hot spots within attic spaces for several hours. There is heavy smoke and water damage to the building, including the sanctuary. \\\"I\\\\\\\\\'m just hoping they can save the existing new sanctuary and there isn\\\\\\\\\'t too much fire damage,\\\" said Dennis Olson, the church property chairperson. \\\"Then there is also the loss of our pastor\\\\\\\\\'s books, his biblical books.\\\" Olson said he hopes the church isn\\\\\\\\\'t a total loss, but the extent of the damage inside wasn\\\\\\\\\'t immediately known. RELATED Two 13-year-old boys are accused of setting a massive fire that damaged a Tualatin church. See photos | View raw video | Watch FOX 12 report In addition to the sanctuary, the church consists of a two-story preschool and an office space. The older section of the church was built 30 years ago, while the newer sanctuary was built within the last three years. \\\"Watching it burn this morning was just awful,\\\" said Denice Hornberger, the preschool director, who activated the school\\\\\\\\\'s phone tree as soon as she saw the flames. Hornberger said it\\\\\\\\\'s not clear how much of the preschool was destroyed by the fire. \\\"I can see in the window that there\\\\\\\\\'s stuff in my office that I can salvage,\\\" she said. The next step, for the preschool, will be to find a temporary place for the preschoolers to attend school. \\\"We\\\\\\\\\'re looking at a relocation. I don\\\\\\\\\'t have it firmed up yet, but that will happen sometime today and we\\\\\\\\\'ll be making phone calls to everybody,\\\" Hornberger said. A total of 60 firefighters, including some from Portland and Lake Oswego, responded to help battle the blaze. The cause has not been determined, though it likely started in the older portion of the building, firefighters said. No injuries were reported.

Jacksonville police investigate church burglary

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0600

Burglary - Jacksonville, AR
JACKSONVILLE, Ark. (KTHV) - The Jacksonville Police Dept. is investigating the robbery of a local church. Police got a call about a commercial burglary at Bible Baptist Church and Jacksonville Christian Academy. Police think the burglaries happened between 11:45 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. A Walmart associate saw a man carrying a clear plastic jar and a First Arkansas Bank and Trust bag with the name \\\"JCA\\\" on it walk into the store and the associate thought it was odd to see a tattooed man carry these items so early in the morning Sunday. The associate then saw the man put a large amount of loose change into a Coin Star machine, then ask for larger bills from the smaller ones he received from the change machine. The jar and the bag were left at Walmart. The man pictured is a person of interest in the commercial burglary of the church and Academy. He\\\\\\\\\'s described as 6\\\\\\\\\'1\\\" between 165-180 pounds wearing a dark colored t-shirt with a guitar symbol across the front wearing dark colored jeans and receding hair line. Police say his tattoos appear to be full sleeve tattoos covering both of his forearms but not extending above his elbows. He was seen driving a dark colored four door SUV, a late model Ford Explorer type vehicle. Call police if you recognize the man.

Paintball Gun Mistaken for an Assault Rifle at a Midland Church

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 18:15:00 -0600

Active Shooter - Intruder - Midland, TX
MIDLAND- The neighborhood around St. Mark\\\\\\\\\'s United Methodist Church was sent into a panic on Sunday night. Officers were told a man brought an assault riffle inside the Church. Those who live right next to the Church were told to evacuate their homes and those nearby were instructed to stay inside and lock their doors. Toni Romero lives directly across the street. She says, \\\"We were thinking the worst. My mom started freaking out. She was crying. She was scared. She didn\\\\\\\\\'t know what was going on. She didn\\\\\\\\\'t want anyone to come and hurt us and there were a bunch of us.\\\" Police were told a man with an assault rifle had entered the church. The scene was immediately treated as a hostage situation. At least two dozen police cars surrounded the streets around the church, blocking people from coming close. Romero says, \\\"There was a barricade. All the streets coming towards the church [were blocked] and there were more cops at the storage house on the end.\\\" However, what was thought to be an assault rifle, turned out to be a paintball gun. Police say a teen in a Church youth group brought the paintball gun inside to show his friends. NewsWest 9 talked to the boy and his youth group leader. They say they had no idea a concerned citizen outside the Church called the police on them. The boy is extremely apologetic for causing such a scene. He says he\\\\\\\\\'d been meaning to get a case for the paintball gun, but he just hasn\\\\\\\\\'t gotten around to it. Police say they treated the scene as a high-priority situation as per standard protocol.

Unitarian Church of Harrisburg members return to church a week after cab driver was shot outside their building

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 11:15:00 -0600

Active Shooter - Intruder - Harrisburg, PA
When cab driver Atlas Simpson was shot and killed last Sunday outside the Unitarian Church of Harrisburg during the morning service, member Laura Edinger felt scared, angry, resentful and guilty. She and other members faced their fears this week at the first service after the shooting, returning to the church building they bought on Allison Hill almost three years ago. â€œIâ€™d be lying if I said I wasnâ€™t a little bit scared to be here,â€ Edinger told the congregation. But she felt strongly about the need for the congregation to continue its work there. A Highspire man, Adrian L. Collins, 20, of the 500 block of Willow Street, surrendered to police Saturday afternoon, authorities said. Collins was wanted in the killing of Simpson, 37, a Steelton resident and driver for Capital City Cab Co. â€œItâ€™s a unique situation for a suburban church to come into the city,â€ the Rev. Howard Dana said. But the congregation had outgrown its Swatara Township building and wanted to do more social justice work in the community, he said. Since then the congregation has met at both buildings. If the church doesnâ€™t side with the poor, it isnâ€™t a church, but a country club, Dana told his congregation Sunday. â€œWe cannot stay in the suburbs and pretend the crime and problems are not our problem.â€ Some members didnâ€™t feel comfortable coming to Allison Hill this week, and they might not for awhile, Dana said. But heâ€™s proud of the congregation for talking about the shooting and how they feel about it and for continuing a commitment to help people who live in Allison Hill and donâ€™t have the option of going home to a house in the suburbs. Member Marjy Schubauer-Hartmanâ€™s parents graduated from John Harris High School, and she knows Harrisburg can be a great city again, she said. â€œI want to be part of helping it find its way,â€ said Schubauer-Hartman, who lives in Lower Allen Township.