Florida

Man Hits Priest, Barricades Self in Central Florida Church: Police

Police officers in Melbourne arrived to the Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church early Sunday in response to an incident involving church officials and a man

Pews and stained glass windows in church
Getty Images

A man struck a priest and barricaded himself inside a Florida church on Sunday before he was arrested by police, officials said.

News outlets say that police officers in Melbourne arrived to the Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church early Sunday in response to an incident involving church officials and a man.

Watch NBC6 free wherever you are

>
Watch button  WATCH HERE

Police say the man hit one of the priests and was seen with a firearm when officers arrived at the scene. Members of the church were able to escape, but the man barricaded himself near the front door of the church and threatened to kill himself, reports said.

SWAT members were at the scene negotiating with the man, who was finally arrested more than four hours later. Detectives are continuing to investigate to determine what charges he will face.

Get local news you need to know to start your day with NBC 6's News Headlines newsletter.

>
Newsletter button  SIGN UP
Copyright The Associated Press
Contact Us