News Stories Related to Church Violence

Nov. 26, 2007 - Arrest Made in Thanksgiving Day Church Robbery

There's been an arrest in the Thanksgiving evening robbery at one of the largest churches in Dallas. Myron Moats is in jail charged with the robbery of the First Baptist Church of Dallas.

Moats, who says he's innocent, sat down and talked with CBS 11 News. Moats says he was spending time with his brother on Thanksgiving and was nowhere near the First Baptist Church last Thursday. Moats was arrested Saturday at his Fort Worth apartment. "I did not commit aggravated robbery, on the First Baptist Church," Moats said.

Surveillance video from the church shows two people walking into the back door, armed and wearing face masks. "It don't show no faces or nothing like that right? So how do they know it's me?" Moats questioned.

Initial reports say eight plasma televisions were stolen from the church. The suspects used a garbage hauler to move the televisions to a waiting pickup truck. Initial reports say eight plasma televisions were stolen from the church. The suspects used a garbage hauler to move the televisions to a waiting pickup truck.

Moats admits to buying a stolen television off the street, but says he used the TV as payment for repairs on his truck. Police impounded a silver pickup truck, which they believe belongs to Moats, and is the same truck in the surveillance video. "Maybe I had some merchandise of theirs [the First Baptist Church], but I wasn't the one who stole it," he says. Moats bond is set at $100,000.

Church officials say they're thankful no one was hurt during the robbery and they are praying for those involved. Dallas police investigators say the case is ongoing and they expect to make more arrests in the case. (CBS 11 News – Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX)