Saturday, January 12, 2013

West Palm Beach A.M.E Pastor Attacked and Robbed inside Church

Man accused of robbing pastor at suburban West Palm Beach church

West Palm Beach A.M.E Pastor Attacked and Robbed in Church

A man is in custody after authorities say he assaulted and robbed a pastor in suburban West Palm Beach on last Sunday night.

The pastor of St. Paul A.M.E church in West Palm Beach, Florida was robbed and attacked.

A man the police say is the suspect, Richard L. Emanuel, of West Palm Beach, was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail Tuesday evening. Manuel faces robbery and aggravated battery charges and his bond is set at $50,000 for the battery charge, though he was refused bond for the robbery charge.

The pastor said he was changing in his office at the church located in the 3300 block of Haverhill Road at about 10:18 p.m. Sunday when he was suddenly struck in the back of the head. He fought with the attacker, who eventually ripped a gold necklace from his neck, took his gold bracelet and gold Invicta watch before fleeing.

St. Paul A.M.E church in West Palm Beach, Florida

The attacker Emanuel, 53, was said to be armed with a steel bar and was wearing a black sweatshirt, a black ski mask, sunglasses and black gloves during the attack.

After sheriffs arrive, the pastor was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center to receive treatment for contusions and other injuries he suffered during the attack.
The deputy said he saw a white van leaving the church parking lot around the time he heard reports of the attack, so he followed the van, which hit a parked vehicle as it left. He and other deputies later stopped the vehicle. Emanuel was behind the wheel, but instead of the black sweatshirt, he was wearing a red shirt.

Though Emanuel said refused a DNA test and questioning when apprehended on Tuesday, he could not find the evidence he wore inside the white van he was stopped in that day.

Officers found what he was wearing the day of the attack and also found the pastor’s bracelet and watch.

Note: The photo above of the church is on St. Paul AME church website at the location of the attack but the same photo is used on another church website for a Seven Day Adventist church.

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