Posted on 06/24/2026 5:40:25 PM PDT by Morgana
A Louisiana pastor accused of fighting with a 20-year-old has said the 'truth will come out in court' after his arrest on a charge of second-degree battery.
Tony Spell, 48, who leads Life Tabernacle Church on the outskirts of Baton Rouge, was detained for allegedly attacking a man just after 11am on Tuesday.
The pastor appeared in court later that day and told reporters outside that he would give his side of the story during trial - before adding that he had 'a red hot sermon ready' for his congregants too.
Spell previously hit the headlines for fiercely opposing coronavirus rules during the pandemic. He was arrested in April 2020 and accused of trying to reverse the church bus over a man who staged a protest against his church gatherings.
However, hundreds of congregants leapt to his defense, inundating police phone lines with complaints about the 2020 arrest.
It appears that the bus screeched to a halt before reaching the protester, and the assault charges against Spell were dropped.
The pastor's latest arrest affidavit, obtained by the Daily Mail, describes how a fight escalated outside his church on Hooper Street.
The 20-year-old was left with a broken bone below his eye socket, according to cops. He also needed stitches below his chin, the police report said.
Relatives of the alleged victim told local news outlets that he had a long-running feud with Spell, though further details were not given.
Shocking video footage has emerged which appears to show a man who resembles Spell attacking another individual.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.com ...
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I see a lawsuit in that church's future.
You're why women belong in the kitchen........
The punk took a swipe at him. He's lucky he didn't just get a beat down.
Michael Berry had Tony Spell on his show today. Michael said the 20 year-old took a swing (assault) at Mr. Spell first. Apparently there’s a video out there. I haven’t seen it, but Berry isn’t the sort to make stuff up nor bend the truth.
And who knows what happened before that. It may be that the punk threated the pastor's family or whatever. We don't have all the info. Just a clickbait headline and a video after things were already heated.
What? It’s called having the kid trespassed from the property. If he does not leave then they arrest him.
Now the church is going to have to pay for this fool’s attorney and court costs.
What if he looses the case and 12 find him guilty? What will that cost the church?
Also there is this bad press about him beating up a 20 year old.
” It may be that the punk threated the pastor’s family or whatever. “
Click on the link the kid dropped the F bomb.
“That pastor put his hands on the kid first.”
You are lying, Morgana.
I’m curious why you’re lying about this.
You might want to rewatch the video. The video I watched, the 20 year old swung at the pastor first, the pastor put up his arm to deflect the blow.
Sounds like the pastor extended the right hand of fellowship to the young man twice. Once to the eye, once to the chin.
I watched the video. Plus the pic is on the site The pastor reached out and grabbed his left shoulder first. Then the kid started swinging.
this is after the Pastor ran from across the street to start the fight. That kid was actually in his own yard.
Since the pastor touched him first and ran from across the street he is the one starting the fight.
The pastor put his right hand on the kid’s left shoulder. he did it first this after running across the street to start the fight.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dCD6z0js4as
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEG9YBXctXQ
bflr
The pastor may have went bit overboard in giving the other guy a few extra shots when he was obviously down and out of the fight, but the kid swung first. Who knows, the kid may have been justified in swinging first, but there is not enough in these stories and videos for us to come to a conclusion. Let the courts sort it out, they will have more information than us.
The world was a better place when a man could deck someone for being a jerk. Didn’t watch the video and won’t. Just a rule of thumb.
One of the best things that happened to me when I was a teen with some attitude was being lifted off the ground with one hand by a pre-Arnold body builder and being told an attitude could get me hurt bad. He shook me like a rag doll, dropped me, and told me to grow up while I was still alive.
Good advice!
Louisiana Pastor Tony Spell is facing charges after beating a man who allegedly threatened to R*PE and kill his wife and grandchildren.
According to Spell, he was working on a church bus when the neighbor’s son started shouting violent threats: “I’m gonna R*PE your wife, I’m gonna R*PE all of your grandchildren… The next time you go out of town, I’m gonna k*ll them.”
Spell says it’s his duty as a husband, father, and pastor to protect his family.
He confronted the man and the situation turned physical.
The pastor was arrested and booked for second-degree battery.
Church members back his account and say they’ve made multiple prior complaints about the neighboring family.
Spell’s attorney also raised concerns about surveillance cameras pointed at the church.
The neighbors dispute the story.
Pastor just laid hands on him, in a different way...LOL!
The pastor shared a word from 1st and 2nd Chronknuckles!
The kid threw the first punch at the pastor and the pastor blocked it.
This pastor gives the saying “laying on of hands” a new meaning…..
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