Churches on alert after man disturbs number of services, SC sheriff says
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department said it’s investigating reports of a man who has interrupted multiple prayer services at South Carolina churches where he’s made threats.
There have been a number of social media posts about the disruptions, and Trinity Point Church reported an incident that happened Oct. 12, the sheriff’s department said in a news release.
The man accused of interrupting the church services has not been identified, and no arrests have been made, according to the release.
No injuries have been reported in any incidents.
In the Oct. 12 incident at the church in the 11000 block of Garners Ferry Road, the man was banging on the locked sanctuary door toward the end of the service, according to an incident report. An usher allowed the man to join the worship, the incident report said.
A witness said at first the man looked fidgety as he kept his hands in his pockets and head down while sitting on a back pew, according to the incident report. The witness continues that the man then appeared to be agitated as he walked up to where the pastor was at the front of the sanctuary and was “yelling, cussing and making a scene,” according to the incident report.
At that point, some men in the church surrounded him, grabbing the man’s hands and holding them like they do when they are praying over people or receiving a blessing, the incident report said. The pastor and the men in the congregation then ushered him to the back of the sanctuary to the pastor’s office to speak with him, according to the incident report.
Information about what happened inside the pastor’s office was not available, but soon the men in the congregation escorted him out of the church, and they waited until he got into his vehicle and drove away, the incident report said. One church member said that when the man was in his vehicle, he kept looking in his lap at something “they believe was a weapon,” according to the incident report.
In addition to investigating this incident, the sheriff’s department said deputies have been directed to conduct routine check-ins at area churches.
“Our church community is invited to reach out to (the sheriff’s department) if you would like for a deputy to meet with your security committee,” the release said. The sheriff’s department “is committed to the safety of our churches.”
Anyone looking to contact the sheriff’s department’s Community Action Team can call 803-576-3498, and the non-emergency number for Richland County dispatch is 803-252-2911.
In the case of an emergency always call 911.
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