By Ijeoma Agbafo
Tony Spell, pastor of Life Tabernacle Church in Louisiana, has been charged with second-degree battery following a physical altercation with a 20-year-old neighbour amid a long-running dispute between the two families.
The incident occurred on Tuesday outside the church in Central, Louisiana, after Spell crossed the road and confronted Luke Sherwin, the son of a family that has been involved in a years-long feud with the pastor.
Spell claimed he confronted the young man after hearing threats directed at his wife and grandchildren, while the Sherwin family denied the allegation, saying surveillance footage showed the pastor initiating the confrontation.
The victim sustained facial injuries and received medical treatment, while Spell was arrested, released on a 25,000-dollar bond and is expected to appear in court on Sept. 15, where he has indicated he will plead not guilty.
The dispute between the Spell and Sherwin families dates back to 2020 and has involved repeated complaints to police, allegations of harassment, lawsuits and disagreements over surveillance cameras installed near the church.
Authorities said the incident remains under investigation, while the legal proceedings are expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.
