'Gay Couple Assaulted by Church Leaders' (video)

Assault Complaints Filed after Incident at Church



By dwilkerson@wbbjtv.com
By Daniel Wilkerson

Story Created: Sep 28, 2011 CDT

Story Updated: Sep 28, 2011 at 8:29 PM CDT
A gay Gibson County couple said they were assaulted when they tried to attend church services at the Grace Fellowship Church in Fruitland last Wednesday.

"I went over to take the keys out of the ignition and all the sudden I hear someone say 'sick'em,'" said Gibson County resident, Jerry Pittman Jr.

Pittman said the attacked was prompted by the pastor of the church, Jerry Pittman, his father.

"My uncle and two other deacons came over to the car per my dad's request. My uncle smash me in the door as the other deacon knocked my boyfriend back so he couldn't help me, punching him in his face and his chest. The other deacon came and hit me through my car window in my back," said Pittman. He said bystanders did not offer assistance. He said the deacon yelled derogatory homosexual slurs, even after officers arrived. He said the officers never intervened to stop the deacons from yelling the slurs.

"If I was on the scene I would not have allowed that. The deputy should not have allowed it if he did," said Gibson County Sheriff Chuck Arnold.

Pittman said neither he nor Lee were allowed to press charges while at the church.

"I haven't talk to him but that would be out of character for my deputy to say unless they were causing a problem themselves," said Sheriff Arnold.

Friday, the couple filed assault charges against Deacons Billy Sims and Eugene McCoy. Pittman pressed additional charges against his father and Deacon Patrick Flatt. Pastor Pittman's attorney contacted ABC 7 Eyewitness News by phone and said she had no comment and demanded we not contact the pastor.

All parties are due in court October 4.

tmontyb wrote:Fruitland? How ironic!

It's a sad shame that the guy's own father is such a hater. I really bad for him. Seems like there's a good ole boys club in that town. If I were them, I would try to get as far away from there as I can get.

Alan Smithee wrote:

Noticed that too, huh? At first I thought this story was going to be about someone not being allowed to attend a church service but a physical assault? Throw the book at the church officials although good luck with that as it sounds like the victims of the attack could wind up being the ones charged with something based on the alleged actions of law enforcement on the scene. Think igoing to be a little tense at the Pittman Thanksgiving dinner this year?

Alan Smithee wrote:I see your sarcasm detector needs to be recalibrated.

Bluesmama wrote:Sad, sick, and wrong. If this was my father I don't think I could find it in me to forgive him, ever.

Opa Shale wrote:OK, Chritian apologists tell me how fucked up MY attitude is.

Gibson County Pastor Charged With Stealing

ABC 7 Eyewitness News has learned about new allegations against the same Gibson County pastor accused of assaulting his gay son and his boyfriend.

According to Trenton police, they recently arrested Pastor Jerry Pittman, of Fruitland's Grace Fellowship Church, on charges of stealing from a local business.

"It's hard enough nowadays to trust people and I just can't believe that a pastor would even steal anything," said Trenton resident Hayley Gordon.

Police arrested the 52-year-old on September 21, after his estranged wife told them she had heard from co-workers that he had been stealing from her business.

"Our investigation into the incident that was reported showed that he and another gentleman did scrap copper at a scrap yard here in Trenton," Lt. James Wilson said.

Investigators said he scrapped the copper at least three different times since August. It was hundreds of pounds, and worth more than $1,000.

"It was quite a bit that they scrapped," Wilson said.

This actually is not the first time Pittman has been arrested. Police said he was arrested back in 2006 for a simple assault charge.

"It was over an incident where the daughter and the boyfriend had a joint child," Wilson said. "There were some accusations involving the father of the child, which was the boyfriend, and he confronted the father of his grandchild at a local grocery store."

According to investigators, Pittman is charged with theft of more than $1,000. He bonded out of jail the day he was arrested, and his next court appearance will be October 28 at Trenton Municipal Court.




http://www.wbbjtv.com/news/local/Gibson-County-Pastor-Charged-With-Stealing-131295989.html