The FEAR of GOD
Over the weekend, deputies nab a church burglar as he attempts to flee the scene in a mini-van.
HAMMOND, LA – (August 21, 2017) – Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards reports the following arrest.
On August 19, 2017, at approximately 2:00 a.m., 51-year old Kurt Lawson, with a last known address in Omaha, NE, was taken into custody after deputies caught the guy as he was attempting to flee the scene of the church he is accused of burglarizing.
In the early morning hours of August 19th, deputies responded to an activated burglary alarm at the New Beulah Baptist Church on Baptist Rd. in Hammond. While approaching the scene, deputies observed a white Chrysler Mini-Van exiting the church’s parking lot at a high rate of speed leaving behind a cloud of dust and debris. Due to the suspicious nature of events near the proximity of the call for service, deputies initiated a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle.
While approaching the vehicle, the deputies observed that the driver was bleeding from the head and arm. At this time, the driver was ordered to exit the vehicle where he was subsequently detained pending a roadside investigation. The investigation revealed that one of the church’s windows was shattered and fresh droplets of blood were left at the scene. Evidence was collected, processed and will be sent to LSP Crime Lab for further investigation.
Subsequently, Lawson was taken to the parish jail where he was charged and booked with Reckless operation of a vehicle and Burglary of a Religious Building.
Fortunately for the church, the accused must have felt the fear of God and fled the scene as soon as he heard the sounds of the burglar-alarm begin to reign down. No items are believed to have been taken from the church at this time.
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