Arrest warrant issued for Tampa megachurch pastor who led services despite safer-at-home orders

[CatWoman]

Arrest warrant issued for Tampa megachurch pastor who led packed services despite safer-at-home orders

TAMPA, Fla. - The pastor of a Tampa megachurch is facing charges after refusing to close its doors despite a "safer at home" order in effect in Hillsborough County, meant to stop the spread of COVID-19. The sheriff of Hillsborough County says one of two Sunday services had up to 500 people in attendance.

Sheriff Chad Chronister and State Attorney Andrew Warren announced an arrest warrant was issued for Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne. He faces charges of unlawful assembly and violation of public health emergency order.

The River at Tampa Bay Church held two services Sunday, Chronister said, and even offered bus transportation for those services. The chuch's livestream showed a packed crowd cheering and applauding.

"They have access to technology allowing them to livestream their services over the internet and broadcast to their 400 members from the safety of their own homes, but instead they chose to gather at church," Chronister said during a press conference.

Chronister said Howard-Browne is not in custody yet, but said he is expected to turn himself in.

"We're hopeful that the congregation will realize the importance of this virus and stay at home," he said.

https://www.fox13news.com/news/arrest-warrant-issued-for-tampa-megachurch-pastor-who-led-packed-services-despite-safer-at-home-orders

[In_The_Wind]

1. It's about time.

[OhNo-Really]

33. Will they be denied a ventilator? No

They are all guilty!

if anyone in their area dies unnecessarily because of lack of ventilators and their rebellious selves are hooked up to one.....

[ExciteBike66]

2. Dumbest people in society putting themselves more at risk? I'm not opposed... ;)

[Bernardo de La Paz]

14. That's kind of dumb. Those people can infect smart people even tho smart people take precautions

Please don't encourage anybody.

(Yes, I know you were attempting some humour.)

[drmeow]

61. When it comes to Republican's views on

many health care issues, my response is often "I hope [the worst possible outcome related to their law] happens to them or theirs" (die in childbirth or from a botched back alley abortion, get the coronavirus and die). Unfortunately it is almost always someone innocent who will suffer through no fault of their own rather than the Republican's who make the laws or policies. With abortion it is their offspring who never asked to be born into that psycho environment. With the environment its all of us along with them. With coronavirus it is health care workers. With gun violence its innocent bystanders. Its quite infuriating, really.

[babylonsister]

3. Good. And had the GD governor issued a statewide

stay at home directive, perhaps none of this would have happened, potentially spreading to thousands of residents.

[ProfessorGAC]

4. We Already Know The Defense

They'll use 1st amendment. Religion & freedom to assemble peacefully.
Not a lawyer, so don't know if that'll work, but I think it's a slamdunk that's what they'll claim.

[mucifer]

5. Screaming "fire" in a crowded theater. Just sayin' it should stick

[ProfessorGAC]

20. Lawyers Here Say That Doesn't Exist

Look for them. I'm not ever going to specify a DUer without getting their OK first, but they're on here.

[IronLionZion]

50. Some info on that

https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/11/its-time-to-stop-using-the-fire-in-a-crowded-theater-quote/264449/

I'm no lawyer but this sort of thing makes me think we have way too many lawyers in America. It doesn't have to be this complicated. Common sense should prevail.

[Cartoonist]

8. Religious liberty!

Stand your ground!
There is no King but Jesus.
God's got this.

[jmowreader]

51. The Constitution is not a suicide pact

[ProfessorGAC]

55. Agreed

But, they're going to use that defense anyway.
No way is this guy paying the fine without a fight.

[BamaRefugee]

6. This is the evangelical equivalent of Sainthood for the "pastor". Saint Rodney of Tampa!

[Firestorm49]

7. All those who attended should be arrested too. For conspiracy to commit murder.

[A HERETIC I AM]

12. Naaah...at the most they are guilty of gullibility.

If that was an arrestable offense, 60 million Americans would be looking at a bench warrant!

[CatWoman]

9. and in New York

Link to tweet

?s=20

[Bernardo de La Paz]

16. Fines in Canada $1000 for first offense. Woman got fined, car towed & impounded at her expense. nt

[mwooldri]

24. I posted yesterday about some anti women's health protesters in Greensboro.

They were demonstrating outside a clinic, Greensboro police arrested three of them for violating the stay at home order.

[barbtries]

46. good.

i bet they call themselves "pro-life"

[AJT]

10. If those 500 people and the pastor stayed at the church I would

say go for it, kill each other. The fact that they leave and possibly spread the virus to other people is what is awful.

[jls4561]

11. He should get a 14 day quarantine - in solitary confinement.

[Hekate]

13. In his own tiny mind he's going to imagine he's a holy martyr, when in reality he is a dumb jerk...

...putting uncounted lives at risk.

[meow2u3]

15. About. Frickin'. Time.

Let's hope this is just the beginning of crackdowns on repigs thumbing their noses at stay at home orders.

If a criminal record won't teach them not to be selfish, what will? Their own death from COVID-19?

[Renew Deal]

17. How long before he equates them to the Romans, himself to Jesus

or says anything about being persecuted?

[lindysalsagal]

18. AND REMOVE THEIR TAX FREE STATUS AND RELIGIOUS DE-REGULATIONS!

Dammit! Not only do churches get away with not paying for access to everything government provides, they also get to skip all of the other demands made on non-religious institutions:

Their day care centers and "schools" are not regulated, nor are their workers, nor are their health standards.
They don't have to submit any business records or operate under employment regulations. They're dark holes of irresponsibility.
Which is clearly shown here, and people will die because of it.

I'm so sick of religion ruining everything!

[CaptainTruth]

41. +1

[Yeehah]

19. Pastor needs the free money

from the imbecile sheeple.

[Mustellus]

21. Darwin Awards .....

... for all that die from attending this church service.

This virus strikes hard at the elderly, the immune compromised, and the politically stupid.

[Ponietz]

36. And this week's DU Darwin goes to...!

[flibbitygiblets]

22. Cue "Religious Persecution" whining. Fuck these ignorant rubes.

I'm not a religious person, but doesn't the bible say in a bunch of places about "helping those who help themselves" and (paraphrasing) using your god-given brain?

[Jirel]

23. Arrest the god-botherers.

FFS, the Rethug (I know, right?) mayor of the next largest city to me issued an order specifically banning all in-person church services - in a county with a "mere" 7 cases. But what does it take to get these egotists to stop trying to kill people? I'd be happy for them to kill each other, but they insist on taking it back out into the community and killing innocent bystanders and medical personnel trying to save their reckless asses.

[roamer65]

25. Finally.

[Johnny2X2X]

26. Trump is at fault

If Trump hadn't downplayed this for 2 months this stuff wouldn't have happened. Right wingers all across the country wore their disobedience to the Corona Hoax lack a badge of honor. FOX was glorifying the churches and states who were ignoring the CDC's warnings. But it all started with Trump. Thousands will die because of him.

[uponit7771]

32. THANK YOU !!!

[BeckyDem]

27. I am so glad this is not The Onion.

[crickets]

28. They have livestreaming set up. There was no excuse for all of those people to gather.

The pastors at every single church that continues to do this should be arrested as well until people finally understand we all need to go home and stay there. All these services and prayer meetings can take place online. Join the 21st century, idiots. Stop being selfish and start thinking of all the other people you may infect.

Good grief.

[dweller]

29. LOCK HIM UP !!1!

somebody has to say it

😁

✌🏼

[Blue Owl]

30. The River at Trumpa Bay Church

n/t

[kairos12]

31. These rapture assholes will kill us all. Fuck them. Oh, and fuck them!

[PJMcK]

49. And don't forget to fuck 'em

Again and again.

I like this: rapture assholes. Very good.

[Iggo]

57. Every member of every death cult.

Yep.

[Marrah_Goodman]

34. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes

They should have stopped the service and fined every single adult in the place and charged parents who brought children there with child neglect.

[dlk]

35. Can't miss passing the collection plate...

[Dan]

37. It's a business...

They need the cash flow.... it’s a racket.

[papa3times]

38. I'm sure this m effer

stayed well away from the crowd high upon the stage where he was at a safe social distance. Come on down you pos and walk in the crowd where you can be coughed and sneezed on and don't forget to shake everyone's hand and hug all the people you can. The more the merrier you asshole!

[Sloumeau]

39. Good. This stuff is endangering us all. nt

[gristy]

40. He's been arrested and booked, according to TMZ 35 minutes ago

https://www.tmz.com/2020/03/30/river-church-pastor-rodney-howard-browne-arrrest-warrant-coronavirus-social-distancing/

Hillsborough Sheriff
11:28 AM PT -- Howard-Browne has officially been arrested and looks none too pleased in his mug shot. He's been booked for unlawful assembly and for violating health and safety rules.

[JohnnyRingo]

44. Looks like a thug.

Seriously, he looks like the guy in old movies when they send some goons over to talk sense to someone.
I'm sure he's a legitimate businessman though. lol

[erronis]

48. My thoughts also. One of trumps buddies. ("Don't know him")

[CatWoman]

60. ACTUALLY

He looks like a nut.

A thuggish nut.

[JohnnyRingo]

42. Church is where the collection plate is.

Sure, they can get sermons online, but where's the tithe?

Send someone door to door among the congregation to collect. Call it PrayPay™

[jmg257]

43. WOO HOO! LOVE this! I hope he stays in jail (quarantined of course) for quite a while. nt

[hatrack]

45. To paraphrase his ostensible boss, "Render unto Caesar, motherfucker!!"

[sigpooie]

47. 228000 places of business served more than 80 people each on average.

there were 228,000 places of business open in America yesterday that served over 80 people that's 18 million people infected.
we don't need churches added to that number. Every member would loose and eye for going based on the good book, as an accomplis to murder.

[Ponietz]

52. Jerry Falwell, Jr., deserves jail, too

[rurallib]

53. Throw his ass into solitary confinement

He can pray away his days and talk to Gawd

[Mariana]

54. The only reason this is known is because the preacher bragged about it.

I wonder how many churches were open for business yesterday, and are keeping it quiet.

[Iggo]

56. So go bang on his door, Sheriff.

Whaddaya waitin' for?

[iluvtennis]

58. Good. Lock. Him. Up. nt

[MrScorpio]

59. Has he cried "religious persecution" yet?

You know it's coming.