Police Taser Pastor and pepper spray congregation

[Captain Matt]

Respectively, what does the immigration status of a church congregation have to do with...anything?

We have freedom of religion in this country but illegal immigration is illegal. So immigration status is more relevant than their religion. It's more relevant than someone being a pastor. It's more relevant than the arrest and near-riot happening on church property.

[frazzled]

yes the infamous being arrested for resisting arrest charge. I already said he was an idiot. But I think trying to chase him into a church was not a smart move either.

Perhaps chasing him into the church by himself was not smart, but the fact that he was chasing him into the church shouldn't have any burden on how anyone here views this officer's actions.

I disagree. Chasing someone into a closed in space that has been the subject of attacks recently is not the smartest. Is it dumb move of the year? No. Can I see why the LEO did-yes indeed. Would I have done differently-in the heat of the moment probably not. But I think its an unneeded escalation, just like the 40 church members coming out was a much more serious escalation (not sure whch occurred first).
Its a case of der de der. Pastor should not have gotten involved. Crowd should not have come out. Either of those events could have, should have been avoided.

I ask the question: Why should chasing a pastor or any other person unlawfully resisting arrest into a church be considered MORE dangerous than chasing the person into... say, a bank?

---Yes. A bank wouldn't have 100 to 5,000 people sitting there. Not more dangerous for the LEO, but more dangerous of the congregation.

Shouldn't the officer actually feel SAFER in a church than any other building? Doesn't the Lord teach understanding and forgiveness?

Yep. Again more dangerous for the congregation.

If a mob of 40 church members came out to intimidate this officer, or an officer can't feel safe enforcing the law in a church.... we have a serious problem here.
A church should not be considered a dangerous place for an officer of the law.

NOT IN A CHURCH. bad form. bad form.