A man’s disruptive behavior at two Maryland churches on Christmas Eve leads to his arrest and multiple charges.
At a Glance
- Thomas Campbell Bolling Von Goetz arrested for disrupting Christmas Eve services at two Catholic churches in Maryland
- Incidents occurred at Holy Angels Catholic Church and St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church
- Von Goetz dropped an onion in the aisle, threw tangerines at a person, and poured whiskey into holy water
- He faces multiple charges including assault, disorderly conduct, and religious crimes
Christmas Eve Chaos at Maryland Churches
The peaceful atmosphere of Christmas Eve services in Maryland was shattered when Thomas Campbell Bolling Von Goetz engaged in a series of disruptive and alarming actions at two Catholic churches. The incidents, which occurred on December 24, led to Von Goetz’s arrest and a list of serious charges.
The first disturbance took place shortly after 5 p.m. at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Avenue. During the evening Mass, Von Goetz calmly walked down the aisle and dropped an onion, causing confusion among parishioners. As he left the church, the situation escalated when he assaulted a bystander by throwing tangerines at them.
Escalation at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church
The chaos continued later that night at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Leonardtown. During the midnight Mass, Von Goetz’s actions became more severe and sacrilegious. He poured whiskey into the holy water, an act that deeply offended the religious sensibilities of those present. The situation quickly spiraled out of control as Von Goetz began threatening parishioners.
As church officials attempted to escort Von Goetz out of the building, he became increasingly violent. He tried to hit several individuals with a whiskey bottle, putting the safety of the congregation at risk. Quick-thinking attendees managed to detain Von Goetz until law enforcement arrived on the scene.
Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the disturbance at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Upon arrival, they found Von Goetz being held by church members. Given the nature of his behavior, authorities first took Von Goetz to a hospital for medical evaluation before proceeding with formal charges.
The list of charges against Von Goetz is extensive, reflecting the severity and religious nature of his actions. He faces counts of second-degree assault, disorderly conduct, defacing religious property, religious crime against a group, obstructing a religious exercise, threat of mass violence, and disturbing the peace.
These incidents serve as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of religious gatherings. Can you believe we have to be vigilant and expect people to behave like this these days?
