A Daphne pastor was arrested Wednesday after a quarrel at his home, police said. The Rev. David C. Harrison faces a third-degree domestic violence charge, according to Daphne Police Capt. Daniel Bell. The 45-year-old pastor of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church on Main Street was arrested about 7:45 a.m. Wednesday after his wife suffered an injury to her hand and called police, Bell said. The woman did not require immediate medical attention and was not hospitalized, Bell said.
Harrison, who lives on Eagle Creek Drive, was taken to the Daphne Jail, where he remained until Wednesday evening, according to jail officials. He was expected to have bail set at $1,000, which is standard for domestic violence cases, Bell said, but a magistrate also may add certain restrictions on Harrison's release. Bell said police had no record of a history of calls at Harrison's address.
Alabama law defines third-degree domestic violence as a Class A misdemeanor, in which the suspect commits an assault, menacing, reckless endangerment, criminal coercion or harassment, and the victim is someone who has a relationship with the suspect. The crime is punishable by up to one year in jail.
Derrick Yelding, a minister of music at the church, said Wednesday evening that he had heard rumors that something happened involving Harrison, but he wasn't sure what. "Oh Lord, I didn't want to hear that," Yelding said when a reporter revealed that police acknowledged Harrison's arrest. "I was hoping it was not true." He declined to comment further.