Man Tackled After Threat To Shoot Mom In Church

Witnesses: Man Tackled After Threat To Shoot Mom In Church

Man Brings BB Gun To Potter's House Ministries In Mount Oliver

May 24, 2010

PITTSBURGH -- Parishioners sprang into action Sunday morning at a Mount Oliver church where a man threatened to shoot his mother after pulling out a weapon, which was later determined to be a BB gun, Pittsburgh police said.The suspect -- identified as Robert Irvin, 23, of the Mt. Washington area -- was arrested on charges including aggravated assault, terroristic threats and simple assault, police said.People at the church said they were thankful that security guards stepped in to stop the situation from getting worse. Witnesses said quick-thinking security guards prevented chaos inside Potter's House Ministries on Ormsby Avenue."I was in the back. I seen it, though. It was pretty scary," parishioner Tyreesha Hutchinson said.Video - Witnesses said the man entered the church through a side door and pulled out the gun and said, "I'm going to shoot her," police said.Security staff hired to work Sundays at the church quickly tackled the man, witnesses said.

ROBERT IRVIN

"As he came into the side, there was a couple guys that I guess seen the commotion going on and he was about to do something, so they tackled him and that's when they got him, and a couple guys got on top of him and took him off," said Precious Anderson, a parishioner.Police said security guards noticed the young man fumbling around during services, so they asked his stepfather to take him outside. Police said the stepfather took the young men outside and they talked before the young man pulled out the gun and hit his stepfather with it, cutting his ear.Bishop Otis Carswell, the church's senior pastor, said the victim is a deacon at the church. He also said he saw the young man before services."I pulled over and spoke to him and said, 'Hello, and asked him if he was coming to service today, and he said he was," Carswell said. "I just blessed him and kept going, never thinking that he would cause an incident today."Carswell said the young man has some issues, but he would not elaborate. He said parishioners will be praying for him.

Brushy Creek Baptist Church musician charged with assault on teen girl

Brushy Creek Baptist Church
musician charged with
assault on teen girl
• May 4, 2010

A member of the orchestra at Brushy Creek Baptist
Church in Taylors has been charged after
authorities alleged that he kissed a 14-year-old girl
inside the church after orchestra practice.

Perry Eugene Huff, 58, 210 Devonwood Court,
Taylors, was charged with assault and battery of a
high and aggravated nature, according to a warrant.

The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office was told that
Huff kissed the girl on the lips on multiple
occasions and slapped her on the buttocks,
according to the warrant and an incident report.

“The investigator in the case along with the
Solicitor's Office agreed that, based on the evidence
and facts of the case, Huff was to be charged with
ABHAN versus criminal sexual conduct with a minor,
or lewd act on a minor, because the criteria to
charge Huff with CSC or lewd act didn't exist,” said
Sheriff’s Deputy Matthew Armstrong.

Huff was arrested and released on a $10,000
personal recognizance bond, Armstrong said.

Staffers at Brushy Creek Baptist Church couldn’t be
reached for comment Monday.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.