Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Thief takes morning collection from Woodlands church

A thief broke into a Woodlands church Sunday evening and got away with the morning collection of cash and checks, authorities said.

Montgomery County sheriff's officials were notified about the burglary at The Woodlands Christian Church on North Millbend Drive about 5 p.m.

Investigators were told that someone forced his way into an interior room through an inside door and stole a safe containing cash, checks and credit cards.

The burglary happened sometime during choir practice, authorities said. Officials on Monday did not have an estimate of the amount of money taken.

Investigators have little evidence and are seeking information about the crime. Anyone with information should contact Detective Brent Akin at 281-297-6510 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-392-7867.

Crime Stoppers will pay up to a $1,000 cash reward for information leading to an arrest or indictment of a felony crime.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Shots Fired At Church

Police said they arrested a Middle Township man Saturday after shots were fired at the Grace Gospel Church on Route 9 in Rio Grande during a church function.

No one was reported injured from the rounds fired at the church shortly before 2 p.m. Saturday.

When police arrived in response to a 911 call, witnesses said a white van fled the scene. Police found and followed the van to Shunpike Road, where its driver, William Adams, 28, of the Whitesboro neighborhood, pulled into a driveway and fled on foot.

Police surrounded the area and apprehended Adams. Police charged him with eluding a law-enforcement officer and for having a small amount of marijuana.

Middle Township Police Sgt. Richard McHale said the shooting is still under investigation by the local department’s Major Crimes Unit and the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

3 Arrested In Church Burglary

Bastrop, La. -

The Bastrop Police Department made three arrests Friday in connection with the burglary of First Baptist Church last weekend.

Police Chief Downey Black said three televisions and three DVD players were reported stolen from the church Monday, April 19.

A Crime Stoppers tip led to the arrest of Kortland Logan, 21, 604 Hollyhurst Drive. Logan was charged with possession of stolen property-felony and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. The marijuana was found in his vehicle.

Subsequent investigation led to the arrests of two juveniles, both 16, in connection with the burglary of First Baptist Church. Both juveniles were charged with unauthorized entry, and one was also charged with simple burglary.

Black said as of Friday afternoon, all of the stolen property has been recovered with the exception of one TV.


Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Man Charged With Assaulting Woman During Church Service


Church Members Dragged Man From Service, Deputies Say

REIDSVILLE, N.C. -- A Reidsville man grabbed a woman's arm, pulled her hair and choked her during a Sunday morning service at the Solomon's Temple Church Sunday, Rockingham County deputies said.

Deputies said Antonio Simmons, 23, was asked by the pastor to leave, but he refused. Several church members then pulled him into the parking lot, deputies said.

By the time deputies arrived at the church, Simmons had already left.

A deputy spotted Simmons riding in a pickup truck along with 10 to 15 other people. He was taken into custody without incident and charged with domestic assault on a female, threatening phone call, larceny, second-degree trespass and disorderly conduct by disturbing a religious service.

Bond was set at $5,000.

The 18-year-old victim didn't require medical attention.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Police: Toddler safe after church kidnapping try



This weekend, a Eugene Police crime prevention specialist – Officer Steven Chambers – said he was working at a youth event at the church when he "observed a commotion involving a woman calling out for her missing child," according to a press release from the Eugene Police Department.

Chambers and a nearby woman say they both saw a man "luring her 2-year-old child away." The woman grabbed the child, the man jumped into his car and Chambers radioed in the man's description and direction of travel.

"A short time later, Eugene police officers stopped and detained Azoulas David Yurashunas without incident," reports the release.

Yurashunas is 23 years old.

He is now being held on charges of kidnapping, in the second degree, at Lane County Jail.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Assault At Church

Man arrested assault at
Christ the Rock Community
Church

April 12, 2010

MENASHA — Authorities arrested a 30-year-old man
on Sunday morning after he struck another man at
church then later struck a sheriff's deputy.

A Calumet County sheriff's deputy arrested the man
at about 10:45 a.m. after the incident at Christ the
Rock Community Church, W6254 U.S. 10-Wisconsin
114.

John Dedering, an investigator with the sheriff's
department, said the man broke a hallway pew after
becoming angered when denied access to the
church's child care area. He also punched and
kicked an individual who attempted to calm him
down before leaving the church. The man later
punched a sheriff's deputy who stopped him.

The man was booked into the Calumet County Jail.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Man Attempts To Kidnap Girl At Church

Girl nearly abducted during church Easter egg hunt

Cameras caught the man attempting to abduct a young girl in a  church parking lot Cameras caught the man attempting to abduct a young girl in a church parking lot


MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - Police say a man tried to kidnap a little girl while she hid Easter eggs outside of a Montgomery church Sunday morning.

As of Monday afternoon, Montgomery Police were following numerous leads, though there hasn't been an arrest.

On a day devoted to faith, togetherness, and fun, parishioners at Hunter Station Baptist Church don't know what to think.

"They're not safe at their home, they're not safe at the store. They're not safe at the church no more," said Jane Silas.

Luckily, this church has a surveillance camera--which caught the attempt on tape.

The attempted abduction started during Sunday worship. A 10-year-old girl and her brother stepped outside to hide Easter eggs for the other children, according to police.

While the siblings were hiding the eggs authorities say the driver of a black SUV passed the parking lot, circled back, got out, and asked the kids to come over.

"He pulled up, attempted to talk to the subject's little brother--who was 6 years of age--and began making small talk with him," explained MPD Sergeant M.E. Tatum.

The man's small talk then abruptly ended. "He grabbed her, pushed her in the truck," Silas said.

Police say the man also pushed the boy to the ground and tried to drive off with the girl. At the same time, the quick-thinking girl jumped from the SUV and ran off.

"I have to tip my hat to the young girl for her bravery and keeping her wit about her," Tatum said.

"She actually ran from the vehicle at the time he tried to get her in, and possibly saved her life,"

It's an Easter Sunday that could have ended much worse. Church members say they'll stay out with the children next time.

"If I had been five more minutes, I'd have been coming out when he tried to grab her," said Raymond Silas.

"We're going to have to watch them closer," Jane Silas explained. "Very, very, very close. So, you can't trust anything."

Right now, police are looking a white male in his late 30s or early 40s. Authorities say the man has a bald spot on the top of his head.

He was wearing a blue polo shirt and black pants and took off in a black, Nissan XTerra-type SUV.

Police say the little girl is safe and sound and thankful to be alive. Major Huey Thornton of the Montgomery Police Department said the police are following several leads, but as of mid-morning on Monday, no one had been taken into custody.


Monday, April 5, 2010

Two Women Steal Easter Offering

Two women steal Sacramento County church's Easter offerings

Published Monday, Apr. 05, 2010


Two women pulled a pray and dash at a local church, showing up as guests, then making off with the collection totaling thousands of dollars in Easter offerings, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.

Like most churches, the Church of the Nazarene on Arden Way was enjoying a packed house for Easter. Longtime parishioner and former state Assemblyman Larry Bowler said there were many extra guests and occasional churchgoers.

According to sheriff's deputies, two guests were spotted in the church office about 11:20 a.m. But before staff could verify whether they had permission to be there, the women were gone – along with between $10,000 and $20,000 in cash and checks.

Such crimes against churches are "quite unusual," said Capt. Scott Jones.

Over the last two years, eight churches have been robbed, according to a Bee analysis of law enforcement and business records of houses of worship in Sacramento, Rancho Cordova, Roseville, Elk Grove and unincorporated Sacramento County.

"They are usually not huge targets," Jones said, noting that theft by church members is more common.

The women – described as African Americans in their 20s – left in a faded black '80s sedan, Jones said. One was wearing a purple shirt, the other a black shirt, Jones said. No arrests have been made.

Church members who made an offering with a check during the early service have been advised to stop payment.

Church treasurer Albert Seltzer said he didn't think it was the women's first visit to the church.

"To me it had to have been planned," Seltzer said. "They have probably been here before and know the layout of the church."

Bowler was most struck by the timing of the theft.

"To steal from anyone is an outrage. To steal from a church is a double outrage and to steal from a church on Easter Sunday – that is beyond outrage," Bowler said.

He said if the women needed food, it was available. The church operates a food closet, feeding hundreds of people weekly.

"These gals didn't want food," Bowler said. "They wanted cash."

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