Cops zap pastor protesting traffic stop at church

[July 02, 2009]  WEBSTER, Texas (AP) -- Police in Texas said they used a Taser on a pastor and pepper spray on his congregants after the man interfered with a traffic stop in the church parking lot.

Police said the traffic stop Wednesday morning involved a member of the Iglesia Profetica Peniel church in its parking lot in Webster, southeast of Houston.

The department's incident report says Officer Raymond Berryman tried to calm 42-year-old Jose Elias Moran and arrest him, but he pushed the officer, entered the church and returned with 40 other congregants.

The family said Moran did not touch the officer. Moran's son Miguel said 30 witnesses saw the police officer turn aggressive and repeatedly kick the church door.

Moran was charged with interfering in the duties of a police officer.

[Associated Press]

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