Florida pastor Rodney Howard-Browne, who held a packed church service in spite of the latest government mandates regarding coronavirus, was arrested on Monday.
The pastor of The River at Tampa Bay Church was booked and charged with a misdemeanor for unlawful assembly and violation of public health orders. He was released within an hour of the booking.
Howard-Browne infamously claimed that he knew the cure to COVID-19, convincing church members that social distancing was not a requirement for them.
“His reckless disregard for human life put hundreds of people in his congregation at risk, and thousands of residents who may interact with them this week, in danger,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister.
Despite receiving warnings from city officials, Howard-Browne chose to conduct two church services. He even encouraged people to take advantage of his offer to bus them to church.
To go even further, he persuaded the close to 4,000 member congregation to shake hands in an effort to prove their faith that the coronavirus would not impact them.
Megachurches across the U.S. have made an effort to broadcast services to their members via livestream or recordings available on their websites or YouTube. However, Howard-Browne did not opt to go this route and it leaves Sheriff Chronister puzzled.
“I believe there’s nothing more important than faith during a time like this,” he said. “As a sheriff’s office, we would never impede someone’s ability to lean on their religious beliefs as a means of comfort. But, practicing those beliefs has to be done safely.”
The church’s attorney combated the state order for social distancing and “safer at home” practices by using the First Amendment, the freedom of religion, and identifying church services as essential, a requirement under the new coronavirus safety guidelines.
The River at Tampa Bay Church released a statement on Facebook.
“In a time of crisis, people are fearful and in need of comfort and community, more. Than ever before. Even people who do not attend church regularly, or perhaps never go to church, need to know that there is somewhere for them to go when they need help.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis officially announced an executive order for social distancing on Monday. DeSantis is pleading for people to stay at home until at least mid-April to flatten the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
