Tony Spell, a 48-year-old pastor at Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has been arrested for allegedly assaulting his 20-year-old neighbor on June 23. Spell claims he was provoked by threats made against his wife and grandchildren.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Spell stated that the incident occurred while he was working on a Sunday school bus. He alleges his neighbor began shouting and swearing at him from across the street, making explicit threats. "Tony, I'm going to rape your wife, I'm going to rape all your grandchildren, and the next time you go out of town, I'm going to kill them," Spell recounted, according to WBRZ.

Spell, who was accompanied by church members, emphasized his roles as a husband, father, and pastor. "I will not allow a man to murder my children when I'm gone," he stated.

Video footage of the altercation shows Spell walking across the street to his neighbor's property. The two men then engage in a physical fight, with Spell seen throwing multiple punches and wrestling the neighbor to the ground. During the struggle, Spell appears to yell, "I'm going to break your neck!"

The alleged victim reportedly sustained a broken bone below his eye socket and required stitches below his chin, according to a police report.

Spell also claimed that church members have frequently complained about the neighbor's behavior over the years, describing instances of stalking and intimidation with threats of bodily harm. Spell's attorney, Jeffery Wittenbrink, suggested that law enforcement failed to maintain peace and that the church has been subjected to years of provocation.

However, the family of the alleged victim, the Sherwins, disputed Spell's account, calling him a "bully." Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran countered claims of inaction, stating that police records show only five incidents involving Spell or his wife in the past four years, with just one complaint against their neighbors. Corcoran also clarified that the arrest was handled by the sheriff's office, not the police department.

Spell was charged with second-degree battery and faces a potential prison sentence of up to eight years. His court appearance is scheduled for September 15.

This incident is not the first dispute between Spell and the Sherwin family. In 2020, Spell filed a lawsuit against Sherwin, alleging that surveillance cameras installed at Sherwin's home were intended to monitor Spell and the church.