Pastor Tony Spell Turns Himself In, Booked on 2 Charges ... Wife Says He's Innocent
UPDATE
10:25 AM PT -- Spell has posted his $5,000 bond and been released.
UPDATE
UPDATE
9:50 AM PT -- Tony's wife, Shaye, tells us her husband isn't guilty of any crime, and she claims his arrest is the result of harassment by an allegedly inappropriate protester outside of their church for weeks.
UPDATE
UPDATE
She also claims the DA's Office has been following Tony and her, along with other church members, hoping to catch them doing something wrong. She and a busload of parishioners are heading to where the pastor's locked up to protest.
UPDATE
8:31 AM PT -- 4/21 -- Spell was just cuffed by police -- who apparently took his Bible in the process -- and hauled off to jail. Central PD tells TMZ ... the pastor turned himself in around 10 AM Tuesday and has been booked on the 2 misdemeanors, aggravated assault and improper reversing.
UPDATE
Pastor Tony Spell is officially a wanted man -- cops have a warrant to arrest him for allegedly backing up a church bus toward a demonstrator.
According to Central Police in Baton Rouge ... the warrant was issued Monday based on video evidence caught by FOX 44 from a Sunday incident where Spell allegedly reversed the bus upon the shoulder of the road and nearly took out someone who was protesting his church gatherings.
Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran tells TMZ ... after speaking with Spell's attorney ... they expect the pastor to turn himself in Tuesday morning around 10:30 AM CT. We're told Spell is being charged with 2 misdemeanors, aggravated assault and improper reversing.
Spell and his attorney are not on the same page, because the controversial leader of the Life Tabernacle Church, tells us ... he will never surrender to authorities.
Video from the alleged incident shows a white bus reversing toward a protester holding a sign outside Spell's church. The bus does not hit the man.
You'll recall ... the pastor was driving a church bus last week while delivering food to people in his community.
And, as you know ... he's been stirring controversy all month, packing his church on Easter without concern for public health or the health of his congregation.
A parishioner from Spell's church has since died of COVID-19 and his attorney has also contracted the virus.
Originally Published -- 4/20 7:31 PM PT
