Newly released law-enforcement video shows Rev. Tony Spell, the outspoken pastor at Life Tabernacle Church in Central, casually tossing out a homophobic slur while chatting with deputies just days after authorities say he ran across a busy road and attacked a 20-year-old neighbor. The June 23 confrontation led to a second-degree battery arrest and a court protective order that bars Spell from contacting the family and keeps him roughly 50 yards from their home.
What the footage shows
Body-worn camera video captured the early-morning exchange on June 25 around 4:50 a.m., as deputies responded to a noise complaint. In the clip, officers can be heard questioning Spell before the pastor uses the slur and brags, "he’s just sore because I beat the crap out of his little f***t boy." The footage also shows Spell gesturing toward nearby teens and proclaiming, "Everybody in the world knows my name," according to WAFB.
Arrest and surveillance video
East Baton Rouge deputies arrested Spell on June 23, booking him on a second-degree battery charge after surveillance footage showed him crossing Hooper Road and striking the 20-year-old near the church, officials said. The victim's father told reporters his son needed stitches after the encounter, and authorities reviewed the security video before filing the charge, as reported by KSLA.
Neighbors and past conflicts
The clash is the latest chapter in what appears to be a years-long feud between Spell and the Sherwin family, a dispute that traces back to 2020 when Spell defied COVID-era limits by holding in-person services and later sued neighbors over their surveillance cameras. WBRZ reports Spell was previously arrested after video showed him nearly hitting a protester with a church bus in 2020, though those allegations never resulted in formal prosecution.
Legal fallout
Following the latest arrest, a commissioner issued a protective order that bars Spell from contacting the victim or his family and, except to "walk over and check his mailbox," keeps him about 50 yards from the Sherwins' home, according to the order. The restriction was reported by WBRZ.
What Spell faces
Spell is charged with second-degree battery, a felony that courts define as intentionally inflicting serious bodily injury. Under Louisiana law, that offense can mean significant prison time and a fine. Legal summaries say second-degree battery can carry up to several years in prison and fines up to $2,000, according to The Bradley Law Firm.
Next steps
Spell bonded out shortly after his arrest and is scheduled to appear in court in September while the sheriff’s office continues its investigation. At a news conference, neighbors and church members offered sharply different versions of what led up to the confrontation. Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran said his department has logged only a handful of complaints involving the Spells in recent years, according to KSLA.
