Tony Spell, the pastor at Life Tabernacle Church in Central, Louisiana, was arrested on the premises of his church Tuesday and is headed to East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on aggravated assault and other charges, according to a report by WAFB reporter Graham Ulkins.
Spell, who has stirred controversy for holding services against state orders, has been charged after an alleged incident with a COVID-19 protester Sunday outside his church, according to TV news reporter Abbi Rocha.
Police said Spell allegedly backed a bus toward the protester before stopping the vehicle, according to a tweet by Ulkins. He is charged with aggravated assault, improper backing and outstanding bench warrants.
In the footage of his arrest, Spell is seen handcuffed by multiple officers while wearing a dark-colored suit.
As his arrest is underway, Spell protests "You're gone take my bible, you're gone take my bible."
#BREAKING: Pastor Tony Spell just cuffed and en route to EBR Parish Prison. Charged with aggravated assault, improper backing, and outstanding bench warrants. Central PD releasing a statement soon. @WAFB pic.twitter.com/4hx1yQRV4N
— Graham Ulkins (@GrahamUlkins) April 21, 2020
Spell, who has consistently invited his members to attend services against state stay-at-home orders, has now asked them to donate their stimulus checks to his ministry.
He recently launched the #PastorSpellStimulusChallenge, which requests that believers send their roughly $1,200 stimulus earnings to pastors, missionaries and music ministers who have received little support as church services have gone digital, according to news station WAFB.
Spell faced jail time earlier this month when he violated the state’s orders to keep gatherings to fewer than 10 people when he opened Life Tabernacle’s doors to reportedly 500 people. Louisiana’s District Attorney Hillar Moore confirmed that Spell would be charged with six counts of disobeying powers of government.
Shortly after the charges were announced, Spell continued to defy the orders by holding an evening church service, with members hugging, shaking hands and standing close to each other.
Spell proclaimed at the time that he would keep his church doors open because he doesn’t see a difference in his church staying open versus Walmart remaining open.
“We are needy people. Our souls are lost,” he said. “We need help, and the church is the salvation center of the soul, the sanctuary where we come together and meet.”
Spell did not accept a stimulus check, but he told the news station that his wife and son have donated their checks.
Spell appeared on CNN’s “New Day Weekend” on Sunday and discussed with host Victor Blackwell why he’s asked his parishioners and churchgoers around the country to give away their government-issued funds.
“To say to people who you know don’t have much, you have to go and pick them up to bring them to your church, to then ask them to hand over the $1,200, the only money some people will have, and you have another option,” Blackwell commented. “Why not give that money to them? And why isn’t this a time for the church to give to those who do not have?”
Rich Barak of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution contributed to this report.
