Michigan church pastor arrested, fired after camera found in bathroom, officials say
Published in Religious News
DETROIT — A Brighton church leader was arrested Friday after a staff member found a hidden camera in a bathroom, officials said.
Will Johnson, the worship pastor director of 2|42 Community Church, was also fired, a top church official said in a statement.
Eric Rauch, 2|42 Community Church's executive pastor of ministry operations, said Johnson's arrest and dismissal came after a staff member reported to the congregation's leadership the hidden camera was found inside "a non-public, unisex bathroom in the (Brighton church's) backstage area."
He said Johnson confessed to church leadership that he had placed the camera in the bathroom.
"The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office was notified and they placed Will Johnson under arrest Friday evening," Rauch said.
He added Johnson was immediately terminated by the church.
"We are shocked and deeply saddened by this situation, as the protection, safety and privacy of every person who enters our church is our priority," Rauch said. "2|42 Community Church is cooperating fully with the sheriff’s office investigation and is taking proactive steps, including engaging with a third-party investigator, to ensure the safety of all our facilities."
The church also has campuses in Ann Arbor, Lansing, Livonia, Monroe, Saginaw and Taylor.
Officials with the Livingston County Sheriff's Office were not immediately available to comment Monday.
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