Stay in order violator arrested

[geekette]

Police arrest Florida pastor for holding church services despite stay-at-home order

Sheriff's deputies on Monday arrested evangelical pastor Rodney Howard-Browne, who has hosted large church services despite public orders urging residents to stay home to help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

www.cnn.com

Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne said he wouldn't close the doors of his Tampa, Florida, megachurch until the End Times begin. The police weren't willing to wait that long.
On Monday, Florida sheriff's deputies arrested the evangelical pastor, who has continued to host large church services despite public orders urging residents to stay home to help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said Howard-Browne has been charged with two counts: unlawful assembly and a violation of health emergency rules. Both are second-degree misdemeanors, Chronister said at a press conference Monday.

 

[Rolltydr]

Police arrest Florida pastor for holding church services despite stay-at-home order

Sheriff's deputies on Monday arrested evangelical pastor Rodney Howard-Browne, who has hosted large church services despite public orders urging residents to stay home to help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

www.cnn.com

Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne said he wouldn't close the doors of his Tampa, Florida, megachurch until the End Times begin. The police weren't willing to wait that long.
On Monday, Florida sheriff's deputies arrested the evangelical pastor, who has continued to host large church services despite public orders urging residents to stay home to help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said Howard-Browne has been charged with two counts: unlawful assembly and a violation of health emergency rules. Both are second-degree misdemeanors, Chronister said at a press conference Monday.

I will be surprised if the charges aren’t dropped at some point. However, his actions are the height of arrogance and ignorance. Unfortunately, his congregants will probably be the ones who suffer.

 

[am1]

Why not arrest the people at the church service as well?

 

[bbodb1]

Why not arrest the people at the church service as well?

Of course, you know what would come next.
Overcrowded jails....mass releases...

 

[geekette]

Why not arrest the people at the church service as well?

that's a good question! Perhaps because they were induced? It's not quite like an employer not letting you work at home, but closest I can come up with.

 

[geekette]

I will be surprised if the charges aren’t dropped at some point. However, his actions are the height of arrogance and ignorance. Unfortunately, his congregants will probably be the ones who suffer.

Yes, I would think they were simply making an example of him. Endangering many more than himself.

he looks pretty creepy in the booking photo!

 

[WVBaker]

Officials: Man defied governor's order by holding bonfire with 60 people

Officials: Man defied governor's order by holding bonfire with 60 people

A Charles County man is being charged with failure to comply with Gov. Larry Hogan's emergency order that restricts gatherings of more than 10 people.

www.wbaltv.com

Man charged with violating Hogan's executive order, serving alcohol to teens

MSP: Man charged with violating Hogan's executive order, serving alcohol to teens

Maryland State Police said they charged a man with violating Gov. Larry Hogan’s executive order and providing alcohol to teens during a party he hosted Sunday at a Carroll County hotel.

www.wbaltv.com

 

[chapjim]

Police arrest Florida pastor for holding church services despite stay-at-home order

Sheriff's deputies on Monday arrested evangelical pastor Rodney Howard-Browne, who has hosted large church services despite public orders urging residents to stay home to help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

www.cnn.com

Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne said he wouldn't close the doors of his Tampa, Florida, megachurch until the End Times begin. The police weren't willing to wait that long.
On Monday, Florida sheriff's deputies arrested the evangelical pastor, who has continued to host large church services despite public orders urging residents to stay home to help contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said Howard-Browne has been charged with two counts: unlawful assembly and a violation of health emergency rules. Both are second-degree misdemeanors, Chronister said at a press conference Monday.

Might the unlawful assembly charge be considered "prohibiting the free exercise thereof [religion]," thereby violating 1st Amendment protections? I get that it is stupid. But, it might also be protected. And, I get that the pastor's argument is not constitutional.

The pastor should consider the emergency health rule violation to be valid -- render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's (maybe not exactly what the Bible says).

Pastors like this give evangelicals a bad name.

 

[DrQ]

 

[Rolltydr]

Yes, I would think they were simply making an example of him. Endangering many more than himself.

he looks pretty creepy in the booking photo!

Yes, he does look rather strange.

 

[Rolltydr]

Might the unlawful assembly charge be considered "prohibiting the free exercise thereof [religion]," thereby violating 1st Amendment protections? I get that it is stupid. But, it might also be protected. And, I get that the pastor's argument is not constitutional.

The pastor should consider the emergency health rule violation to be valid -- render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's (maybe not exactly what the Bible says).

Pastors like this give evangelicals a bad name.

That’s exactly why I said I wouldn’t be surprised if the charges are dropped.

 

[PigsDad]

Why not arrest the people at the church service as well?

At least stand outside the door and give everyone who attended a citation.

Kurt

 

[MrockStar]

Why not arrest the people at the church service as well?

Because they drank the communion koolaid.

 

[TravelTime]

This story is making news. I just saw it on 11th Hour with Brian Williams.

 

[geekette]

At least stand outside the door and give everyone who attended a citation.
Kurt

I might try standing outside the building holding a collection plate as they filed out. Not that I think bribes are cool, but, I don't happen to be in law enforcement, so, if they think I am, well, I can't help what people think.

Then I would donate that money to the PPE effort, since their actions led to the need for more of it.

 

[geekette]

Because they drank the communion koolaid.

Covinaid?

 

[geekette]

This story is making news. I just saw it on 11th Hour with Brian Williams.

YAY! Name and shame. Make an example to deter further BS, as there's another in LA, and I think that one goes and actually picks up worshippers - so they are even closer in a vehicle sharing air!

I am all for separation of church and state. There is no preventing their freedom of religion. They just can't congregate. I would be ok with their filing a lawsuit. It would be dropped after they died.

 

[MrockStar]

YAY! Name and shame. Make an example to deter further BS, as there's another in LA, and I think that one goes and actually picks up worshippers - so they are even closer in a vehicle sharing air!

I am all for separation of church and state. There is no preventing their freedom of religion. They just can't congregate. I would be ok with their filing a lawsuit. It would be dropped after they died.

Dont worry too about them, Heaven doesn't have an overcrowding problem or an intelligence test.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Not sure about criminal charges. However he and his church may be liable for hospital bills and family pain and suffering charges for every parishioner that contracts Covid-19. I can see the lawyers salivating now...the SIP order and arrest further supports the case.

 

[TravelTime]

I hope we do not see Covid-19 lawsuits. It is really impossible to know who infected who. If it happens at a particular place, it is unfair to blame the place. I just read a story about the small town in Georgia where many people got infected at a funeral. People are blaming the deceased man, even though he did not have it. I just read a story of a woman who has Covid-19 and she was being treated like a leper (at least that is how she described how she was treated by a hospital doctor who was blaming and shaming her). If someone gets it at work and dies, will families be suing the employer? It is bad enough to deal with the illness, death and effects on daily life. We do not need lawyers getting involved. I wonder what happened with HIV/AIDS. Did people sue others when they got it? If Covid-19 is going to be as widespread as the experts are predicting, with the majority of the population getting it, then it seems lawsuits would be frivolous. I can understand the urge to sue someone who is defying the stay at home order and having public services but I still do not think it is a good idea.

 

[Rolltydr]

Why not arrest the people at the church service as well?

He was not arrested at the church. The sheriff issued the arrest order after the service and he was allowed to turn himself in. One of the reasons given for that was rumors that the church has a large stash of weapons and a large “security force”. The pastor said that was inaccurate but also said they do have sufficient security to halt a mass shooter. So, he apparently thinks God will protect everyone from a rapidly spreading virus but not from a mass shooter. Interesting.

 

[geekette]

I hope we do not see Covid-19 lawsuits. It is really impossible to know who infected who. If it happens at a particular place, it is unfair to blame the place. I just read a story about the small town in Georgia where many people got infected at a funeral. People are blaming the deceased man, even though he did not have it. I just read a story of a woman who has Covid-19 and she was being treated like a leper (at least that is how she described how she was treated by a hospital doctor who was blaming and shaming her). If someone gets it at work and dies, will families be suing the employer? It is bad enough to deal with the illness, death and effects on daily life. We do not need lawyers getting involved. I wonder what happened with HIV/AIDS. Did people sue others when they got it? If Covid-19 is going to be as widespread as the experts are predicting, with the majority of the population getting it, then it seems lawsuits would be frivolous. I can understand the urge to sue someone who is defying the stay at home order and having public services but I still do not think it is a good idea.

I meant, pastor tries to sue, not his parishioners.

He should remain in lockup because we know he'll do it again. I would have to assume that the collection plates get pretty full. It seems to be another profit over people case. This man is not innocent.

If any of his flock tries to sue him, I agree, good luck with that, as they also ignored order.

 

[Talent312]

Some lawyer should set up a table at the church offering to help peep write wills.
.

 

[WVBaker]

Because they drank the communion koolaid.

Tell you what, let's back off making fun of what many consider a sacred Christian rite and sacrament.

I don't agree with what these people did either, but I'm not going to start wisecracking about their beliefs no more than if their religion was Islam, Judaism, Hinduism or
Buddhism.

Perhaps we can refocus.

 

[Brett]

I hope we do not see Covid-19 lawsuits. It is really impossible to know who infected who. If it happens at a particular place, it is unfair to blame the place. I just read a story about the small town in Georgia where many people got infected at a funeral. People are blaming the deceased man, even though he did not have it. I just read a story of a woman who has Covid-19 and she was being treated like a leper (at least that is how she described how she was treated by a hospital doctor who was blaming and shaming her). If someone gets it at work and dies, will families be suing the employer? It is bad enough to deal with the illness, death and effects on daily life. We do not need lawyers getting involved. I wonder what happened with HIV/AIDS. Did people sue others when they got it? If Covid-19 is going to be as widespread as the experts are predicting, with the majority of the population getting it, then it seems lawsuits would be frivolous. I can understand the urge to sue someone who is defying the stay at home order and having public services but I still do not think it is a good idea.

I too hope there aren't many coronvirus lawsuits. However that could help the unemployed lawyers