Colorado Springs church target of police search
You may recall Grace and St. Stephen's Church which moved to CANA under the cloud of charges of financial mismanagement by its rector, Don Armstrong.
Colorado Springs police chose the eve of Thanksgiving to search the church. The Denver Gazette reports:
Colorado Springs police detectives raided Grace Church and St. Stephen's Wednesday morning to seize paper financial records and computers as part of a theft investigation launched more than a year ago.KRDO adds, "a criminal investigation has been underway and Wednesday's warrant is likely part of that investigation."More than 20 officers cordoned off the block-long church complex at 601 N. Tejon St., evicting its controversial pastor, the Rev. Donald Armstrong, who wandered the sidewalk in clerical garb, a copy of the warrant clutched in his right hand.
...
Members who left Armstrong's flock in the split stood near the police tape to watch the raid."This is a day I've been awaiting for a long time," said former Armstrong follower Stormy Burns as police hauled bags of evidence from the parish offices. "This is my church. It's very emotional, but I'm glad there has been action the part of police."
Rocky Mountain News reports police also took material from Armstrong's home.
Earlier stories on The Lead: Out of Grace: Shredders... | Why, yes, CANA will take you | More from the archives
Color me highly ambivalent.
NO ONE wants to see faithful Episcopalians back into TEC properties, than I do.
At the same time: with the armed hand of the STATE involved? Ugh. :-/
Lord have mercy!
JC Fisher
Posted by tgflux![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 26, 2008 9:23 PM
The raid did not relate to the ownership of the church's property, JCF - that case that will be heard separately in civil court early next year. This relates to the investigation of a potential criminal charge - the question of the conversion of more than $400,000 of foundation and church money, much of it allegedly used for the private advantage of Fr Armstrong's immediate family.
--Roger Mortimer
Posted by Lapinbizarre![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 28, 2008 7:35 AM