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Police interrupting church service causes outrage

The police officer was executing a custody order, despite being asked to wait outside

Charlie Atkin
Tuesday 15 September 2015 14:49 BST
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Police interrupt Allen Chapel AME Pensacola service

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Video has emerged of a Florida police officer interrupting a church ceremony to the dismay of those attending the service.

The pastor can be heard calling the officer’s actions a violation of the churchgoers’ rights, before asking her to wait outside.

The police officer was executing a custody order, trying to organise a peaceful exchange of the child concerned between a father and grandparents.

Chief David Alexander of the Pensacola, Florida Police Department defended the officer’s actions, saying the situation had tried to be resolved peacefully and that a Church is classified as a ‘public place’ in Florida.

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