Defiant Pastor Tony Spell was arrested Tuesday for allegedly backing a church bus into the direction of a protester on Sunday. Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran says Spell wanted to be arrested at his church Tuesday morning following a press conference, but he was handcuffed at the Central Police Department instead.
“We told his attorney that we would not be coming to his church to take custody of him, he would turn himself into the police department. And there directly we got a phone call that from the attorney that they were going to change their press conference to here,” said Corcoran.
Spell was booked in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison for aggravated assault, improper backing, plus two outstanding bench warrants. He was released on bond a short time later.
Spell’s attorney Joe Long says the pastor was only going to confront the protester not run him over.
“The protestor has been antagonizing the congregation for over two weeks. The pastor was going to go out and confront him. He was backing his bus up to so he could get out and talk to him. His wife convinced him not to confront the protester and so he drove off,” said Long
When questioned if today’s arrest would deter Spell from holding large services as opposed to live stream, Corcoran wasn’t sure.
“I don’t know what he’ll do, he hasn’t listened to anything that anyone’s told him. He’s still having his church services, he’s not listening to the Governor’s order or the President’s order,” said Corcoran.
Long says the Life Tabernacle Church plans to hold services tonight as usual. Police say the number of people attending the services has declined lately. Spell already faces six misdemeanor counts for violating the governor’s order regarding crowd sizes.
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