Pastor quits after police make arrest inside her church

EAST HAVEN, Conn. – A Connecticut church pastor has left her job days after confronting police who arrested a domestic violence suspect inside her church.

The New Haven Register reports that Rev. Care Goodstal Spinks resigned her post Thursday at East Haven’s First Congregational Church.

Spinks had confronted East Haven officers Tuesday, telling them they had no right arrest 34-year-old Ryan Champlin inside the church and demanding they release him into her custody.

Police say Champlin had fled to the church after hitting his 59-year-old mother in the head with a cordless phone. He was charged with assault and remains in custody in lieu of $25,000 bond.

Church leaders confirmed in a letter to the congregation that Spinks is no longer employed by the church and thanked police for their “calm and swift actions.”