Pastor Tim Stephens of Fairview Baptist Church in Southeast Calgary was arrested on Monday for a second time because he violated COVID-19 rules for holding an outdoor church service.
Authorities said the arrest came after “repeated calls from concerned citizens regarding church services,” and that Stephens deliberately disregarded public health orders as he hosted a service that broke social distancing protocols and gathering capacity limits.
In a new released by Alberta Health Services they stated that “It is only when significant risk is identified or continued non-compliance is noted that AHS resorts to enforcement action…It is important to understand that law enforcement recognizes people’s desire to participate in faith-based gatherings. However, as we are still in a global pandemic, we all must comply with public health orders in order to ensure everyone’s safety and wellbeing.”
As Stephens was handcuffed and placed in the back of a police car while his family watched in the driveway his wife asked one of the officers, “You want to arrest me and take me away from them too,” pointing to her children. The officer responded, “I have no reason to arrest you alright. So I’m going to leave it at that. Okay?” Reaching his hand through the steel-barred police car window holding his children’s hands while they loudly wept, Stephens said “Bye guys.”
Data from the Government of Canada’s website showed there were only 1,055 new COVID-19 cases in Canada.
Stephens will remain in custody until his scheduled court date on June 28, 2021.