Lewis
Officer First Class Jeremy Sitter was dispatched to First Baptist Church Sunday in reference to an individual begging for money.
Police Chief Steve Cropper says 53-year-old Calvin Lewis, of the 300 block of Winford Street, was caught with a church’s offering envelope in his pocket.
“Dispatch also advised that church member Det. Scott Tucker spoke with Lewis and asked him to stay for church and stop begging for money,” he said. “Lewis told him ‘no,’ and he left the church.”
Sitter then made contact with Lewis in front of the water tower on Main Street.
“Lewis advised that he’d done nothing wrong and he just wanted to go to church,” Cropper said.
While talking with Lewis, Sitter saw the corner of an offering envelope sticking out of his shirt pocket. On the outside of the envelope was the name of a person, their address and the amount of the check inside, he said.
Lewis told the officer the envelope was empty, and when asked if he could look, Cropper says he gave consent.
Lewis then handed Sitter the envelope and when he opened it, he found a check made out to FBC Minden inside.
“Lewis said he thought it was empty because he got it from the offering tray,” he said.
He was placed under arrest for theft and transported to police headquarters.
The envelope with the check was returned to the church, Cropper said.
Lewis was transferred to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.