Central pastor Tony Spell is facing a felony charge after authorities say he attacked a 20-year-old man near his church on Tuesday morning, June 23.
Spell, who leads Life Tabernacle Church on Hooper Road in Central, Louisiana, was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on a charge of second-degree battery before posting bond and walking out of jail Tuesday night.
Surveillance footage obtained by WAFB shows a physical altercation between Spell and the young man. The video captures punches thrown by both parties before the two end up on the ground.
A separate video, provided by the alleged victim’s father, appears to show Spell running across the street toward the man just before the fight broke out.
What Investigators Say Happened
According to arrest documents, the alleged victim told investigators he yelled a profanity at Spell shortly before the confrontation began. Authorities say that’s when Spell crossed the street and started the physical altercation.
The victim’s father, identified as Scott Sherwin, shared photos showing injuries his son suffered in the fight. Sherwin said his son needed five stitches in his chin as a result of the altercation.
Sherwin also told reporters that his family and Spell have had a long-running feud, suggesting the incident wasn’t an isolated flare-up but part of a deeper, ongoing tension between the two households.
Pastor Declines to Discuss Allegations
After being released from custody, Spell briefly stopped to talk with reporters gathered outside the jail. He offered little when asked directly about the charge against him.
“I have no comment,” Spell told reporters when pressed on the specifics of the case.
Instead, Spell pointed to his upcoming court date, signaling that he intends to fight the charge through the legal process rather than address it publicly.
“I’ll be in court September 15. The truth will come out in court,” he said.
Despite the felony charge hanging over him, Spell appeared focused on getting back to his usual routine at the pulpit. He told reporters he was heading straight back to preach.
“I’m headed to the pulpit right now. I have a red-hot sermon ready,” Spell said.
Spell is no stranger to public attention. The Central pastor has made headlines in the past for his outspoken style and willingness to clash publicly with critics and officials alike.
This latest arrest adds another chapter to a pattern of controversy that has followed him for years, though this time the allegations involve a direct physical confrontation with a private citizen rather than a public dispute.
Case Remains Under Investigation
Authorities have not released additional details about what led up to the confrontation beyond the account already shared in arrest documents.
The case remains under investigation, and no court date has been set beyond the September 15 hearing Spell referenced.
Neither Spell nor representatives for Life Tabernacle Church have issued a formal statement addressing the arrest beyond his brief comments to reporters. It’s unclear whether Spell has retained an attorney to represent him in the case moving forward.
For now, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the arrest and the second-degree battery charge, while the Sherwin family maintains that the altercation was the latest incident in a strained, long-standing relationship between the two parties.
