Pastor Hold Thief At Gunpoint Until TPD Arrives

[ghosttruck]

The security alarm at Seminole Heights Baptist Church started ringing around 12:40 a.m. Thursday.

Alerted at his home nearby, Pastor Brant Adams, 40, rolled out of bed, grabbed his handgun and jumped into his pickup truck.

Minutes later, Adams and a deacon, Jack Young, crept into the church at 801 E Hillsborough Ave. The lights were on inside.

Adams spotted a man he didn’t know going through a desk in one of the church offices.

The man noticed him and started to move forward, so Adams drew his gun and screamed at him to get on the ground. The man quickly complied. The pastor approached and stood a few feet away.

“I said, ‘Dude, what are you doing?’” Adams told the Tampa Bay Times.

Young called Tampa police and Adams held the suspect at gunpoint until officers arrived just after 1 a.m.

“He wasn’t looking for a fight, which I thank the Lord for,” Adams said.

Police later identified the man as Miguel Otero-Rivera, 49, of Tampa. He was arrested and charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure, grand theft, possession of burglary tools, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked at the Orient Road Jail and was being held on $8,500 bail Thursday.

Otero-Rivera broke into the church by smashing a window with a brick, Adams said, then he kicked down several doors inside. He cut his back climbing in so blood was spattered through the building. He received medical treatment.

Repairs to the damage could cost the church thousands of dollars, Adams said.

He believes Otero-Rivera was looking for cash. Police said he tried to snatch a church laptop.

Pastor holds church burglary suspect at gunpoint until Tampa police arrive

TAMPA — The security alarm at Seminole Heights Baptist Church started ringing around 12:40 a.m. Thursday.

www.tampabay.com

 

[TX Leather Face]

He will come like a thief in the night.

 

[Muriel Schwenck]

Did the church ladies clean up the blood stains?

 

[Shimazu]

He will come like a thief in the night.

If you know what I mean.

 

[Craygor]

Then Jesus sayth "If a vagabond enter's my father's house without leave, point thy Smith & Wesson at the evil doer and have him lay prone on the holy ground, thereupon demand his intentions"

 

[ChaosKitty]

Then Jesus sayth "If a vagabond enter's my father's house without leave, point thy Smith & Wesson at the evil doer and have him lay prone on the holy ground, thereupon demand his intentions"

& money & worldly possessions

 

[Craygor]

Miguel "WTF! What about, "I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also"?" Otero-Rivera

 

[ChaosKitty]

View attachment 20348
Miguel "What about, "I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also"?" Otero-Rivera

dude, holy water and a stake through the heart woulda probably worked the best

 

[Prettypink513]

View attachment 20348
Miguel "WTF! What about, "I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also"?" Otero-Rivera

That is no 49 year old. Jeez!

 

[Sejanus]

What a human train wreck.
I suddenly feel like I am in Peak physical condition by comparison

 

[Bobbo]

That is no 49 year old. Jeez!

Maybe it was a typo where the numbers were reversed. 94 seems right.

 

[Old Man Metal]

He cut his back climbing in so blood was spattered through the building.

Asshole.