'Irate' Pastor Confronts Cops On Video Over Violent Offender

EAST HAVEN, CT — East Haven Police on Wednesday released a video of the Old Stone Church Pastor confronting officers and trying to block them from taking an accused violent offender, who hid inside the church, back to police headquarters for processing Tuesday afternoon. Police also released body camera footage late Wednesday, which shows police searching the church for the accused violent offender. (You can view both videos a bit further down in the story).

Police said the Pastor was "extremely irate" that police officers entered her church to search for a violent fugitive, Ryan Champlin, 34, who had just attacked his mother repeatedly with a telephone in their home Tuesday. The Pastor physically attempted to stop police officers from leaving with the accused including jumping in front of the police car, police said. The Pastor demanded that police release the accused to her.

On the video, the Pastor blasts cops and said they had no authority to arrest the accused and could not go inside the church to search for the accused violent offender. She said police can't arrest the man while he is inside the church because it's a sanctuary.

Police said young children may have been inside the church, which operates a daycare, and they needed to act. Police were able to take Champlin into custody Tuesday afternoon despite the Pastor's vehement objections. The victim suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries during the brutal attack, police said.

Police Lt. Joseph M. Murgo said they respect the rights of the church but felt they needed to act, especially with young children possibly nearby. Other church employees did allow police into the building, Murgo said, and it was only after Champlin was in custody did the Pastor come on scene.

"While the East Haven Police Department respects the sanctity of a church, we also owe it to victims of domestic violence to apprehend suspects who commit violent felony assaults," Murgo said. "Officers were also cognizant of the fact that children attending day care might have been exposed to a fleeing felony suspect within the interior of the church. We feel that the decision to enter the church was the correct one in this particular situation."

Here is video of the officers searching for Champlin.

Police said they responded to a local home on a report of a serious domestic violence assault Tuesday afternoon. When officers arrived they found the man's mother badly beaten, police said.

The victim said she got into an argument with her son because he does not pay to live with them, police said. The victim said while she was being assaulted by her son, she attempted to call 911, but was unable to do so because Champlin pushed her to the ground, police said.

The victim ran into her bedroom and locked the door, but Champlin forced his way in by kicking it open, grabbed the cordless phone from her and struck her in the back of the head with it several times, breaking the phone, Murgo said. He then fled on foot.

Officers received a tip that Champlin had been dropped off at the Old Stone Church, 251 Main Street, and police were initially allowed in by church employees to search for the man, police said.

Champlin was found hiding in an upstairs office and was arrested without incident, police said. Police said the Pastor arrived and blocked in the police cruiser that Champlin was in and demanded that officers release him to her custody.

She said officers had no right to arrest him within the interior of the church, even if it was for felony domestic violence charges, police said. The Pastor, who was "extremely irate," proceeded to attempt to get in front of the police cruiser when an officer attempted to drive away with Champlin, but was stopped by another officer on scene.

"During this (incident), officers exercised excellent discretion and de-escalated the situation," Murgo said.

Police said when Champlin entered the church he had access to the whole building including the daycare area. Police said they don't believe he contacted any children.

Champlin is charged with second-degree assault, interfering with an emergency call, disorderly conduct, and third-degree criminal mischief. He is being held in lieu of a $25,000 bond.

Image via East Haven Police