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Police Use Taser on Texas Pastor

By ARELIS HERNANDEZ
,
AP
posted: 128 DAYS 2 HOURS AGO
comments: 899
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WEBSTER, Texas (July 2) -- Police used a Taser on a pastor and pepper spray to disperse his congregants Wednesday after the pastor allegedly interfered with a traffic stop in the church parking lot.
Congregants say they were in the Iglesia Profetica Peniel church for an early morning prayer when pastor Jose Elias Moran went to assist the stopped driver, a church member, by asking the police what had happened.
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An incident report on the Webster police department's Web site said Officer Raymond Berryman tried to calm Moran and arrest him. But police say he pushed the officer, went inside the church and returned with 40 other congregants.
The congregants say Moran fled into the church when the officer grew angry and began to yell, and Moran's family disputes that the pastor touched the officer.
Moran's son Miguel said 30 witnesses saw the officer turn aggressive and repeatedly kick the church door. Several members were hit with pepper spray and children were present, Miguel Moran said.
"They treated him as if he were a drug dealer or murderer, but he is a pastor that tries to help the community," Moran said. "The police always want to be right but they are not."
Moran's wife, Maria, said she tried to help her husband after he was hit with the Taser but police threatened to arrest her.
"My husband has a heart condition and with electrocution who knows what could've happened," Maria Moran said, referring to the Taser's electrical shock.
"A pastor has to tend to his flock," she said. "That is all he was doing."
Speaking from a hospital bed Wednesday night, Moran told The Associated Press he planned to hire an attorney to file charges against the officer. He was being held at the hospital overnight for additional tests.
Police did not immediately return calls seeking comment and more details of the incident. Police Sgt. James Lovel did not specify Moran's status, except to say he was in custody and negotiations for bail were taking place Wednesday night.
Webster is a suburb southeast of Houston.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2009-07-02 00:55:07

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Tumbacan

02:40 PMJul 05 2009

Same old story,same racist cops,same old police state.The idiot that is calling everybody to be a cop here is one of them and he treats everybody like a criminal, because he's one himself.There are many citizens myself included that don't have criminal records but will never be cops because is the cops that are criminals and will turn them in which is a risk, after all they cover each other crimes.The only way to deal with this criminals is by sueing them like the kkk and other hate groups. The criminal cops have become a hate group of thier own and only when the city and state officials start loosing money because of them they will react. It's time to take the teasers away from these RACISTS.

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Tumbacan

02:30 PMJul 05 2009

Same old story,same racist cops,same old police state.The idiot that is calling everybody to be a cop here is one of them and he treats everybody like a criminal, because he's one himself.There are many citizens myself included that don't have criminal records but will never be cops because is the cops that are criminals and will turn them in which is a risk, after all they cover each other crimes.The only way to deal with this criminals is by sueing them like the kkk and other hate groups. The scumbag cops have become a hate group of thier own and only when the city and state officials start loosing money because of them they will react. It's time to take the teasers away from these scumbags.

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11:42 AMJul 04 2009

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Wabajr

08:50 AMJul 04 2009

In Texas we have four kinds of 'law' enforcement officers--city policy, sheriffs deputies, constables, and state troopers. Training can be a for a few hours to a few weeks depending of what kind 'law' enforcement you are. Constables get the least training and are the most dangerous. Webster is a small town not far from Galveston. Professionalism is a very doubtful priority not only there but in many jurisdictions. Anyone dealing with many 'law' enforcement officers in this state needs to realize they are by no means dealing with the cream of the crop. A lot of these people could not get real jobs and I would be almost certain do not have much self-esteem. They need the taser to compensate.If you visit Texas, don't ever question the people. Just take notes and try to sue them later.

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FAzev764

04:54 AMJul 04 2009

Where's the video footage when you need it! I heard on the news that the person being pulled over for a traffic stop pulled into the church parking lot instead of on the street. The Pastor in essence was interfering with with a police officer duty. If the Pastor did not follow the instructions of the officer and back off then he could be arrested. He further compounded the situation by running into the church evading arrest and possibly inciting bodily harm to the officer. How was the officer to know the true intent of the Pastor or the congregation when they came out the door. Just because a person is a pastor doesn't excuse them from not following the verbal orders of the officer. Nor does that give him the right to break the law, nor does the collar grant him special privileges. Wheres the video?

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Fenellbrats

12:03 AMJul 04 2009

What kind of traffic stop is made in a church parking lot ?

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07:02 PMJul 03 2009

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04:24 PMJul 03 2009

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Police used a Taser on a pastor and pepper spray to disperse his congregants Wednesday after the pastor allegedly interfered with a traffic stop in the church parking lot.