In a surprising turn of events, a burglar armed with an ax found himself in an unexpected confrontation with a martial arts-trained pastor during a Thanksgiving break-in at a California church.
The incident unfolded at the First Family Church in Antioch, California, where Pastor Nick Neves, 46, responded to an alarm that had been triggered in the early hours of the holiday morning.
According to The Independent, upon arriving at the church, Pastor Neves encountered the intruder and demanded he halt his actions. "I shouted at him to stop, and that the police were on their way, and he ran and I grabbed a hold of him and we ended up wrestling in the parking lot of the church, Neves recounted to NBC News. Unbeknownst to the burglar, Neves had a background in mixed martial arts, including training in jiu-jitsu and kickboxing, which he utilized to subdue the suspect without causing harm.
Neves described the ensuing struggle, saying, I was able to pin him to the ground and he got up and tried to get away several times, but basically I was just trying to wear him out because I knew I could outlast him. The confrontation lasted approximately 15 minutes before the suspect conceded defeat, and the police arrived to apprehend him. The identity of the suspect remains undisclosed.
The Antioch Police Department reported finding an ax, believed to be the burglar's, which was used to shatter a church window for entry. The police department noted, When the burglar saw his wicked deeds had been discovered he decided to fight with the pastor instead of repent. They added, What he did not know was that the pastor would win this battle of good and evil and he held down the perp until APD arrived and placed the man in custody.
Pastor Neves expressed regret over the incident, stating that the burglar's actions were unnecessary. If he had come a couple of days earlier, he would have been blessed and got some food and be cared for, he said. He lamented the suspect's choice to smash windows and desecrate property and do something thats going to hurt the ministries. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle between good and evil, and the importance of upholding traditional values and respect for property, even in the face of adversity.
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