“Cast Not Your Pearls Before Swine...”: Church Tried to Help Black Man, but He was Suspected of Stealing from It, and Pastor Cast Him Out; He Returned and Allegedly Tried to Burn It Down

 

Gregory Lewis Knox' newest mug shot 

Re-posted by Nicholas Stix

I thank the old buddy who sent me this story, remarking,

Black sets fire to church that once tried to help him. Too funny. As Jesus once said, "Cast not your pearls before swine..."

 
St. Paul Man Charged in Church Arson
By Dave Aeikens
12/15/2014 2:11 P.M.
Updated: 12/15/2014 2:35 P.M.
KSTP.com

A St. Paul man has been charged with setting a church on fire Friday.

Thirty-four-year-old Gregory Lewis Knox is charged with first-degree and second-degree arson, according to a complaint filed in Ramsey County District Court.

The charges come from a fire at St. Mark Lutheran Church on West Seventh Street in St. Paul.

The fire, reported at 7:22 a.m., heavily damaged the second floor. An investigation revealed that evidence showed that the fire was intentionally set. A number of witnesses said Knox was in the area of the church and the area during the time the fire started, the complaint said.

Knox is not a member of the church but has been coming to the church looking for work. Knox's relationship between the pastor and the cook deteriorated after some thefts that started in October, including a cellphone. Knox was told he could no longer come to the church, the complaint said.

Knox turned himself in to St. Paul police Friday. Knox denied that he started the fire, according to the complaint.