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Neves, it seemed, wasted little time getting into action. He is trained in mixed martial arts, including jiu-jitsu and kickboxing.
MMA-trained pastor confronts burglar. (Photo Credits: Facebook)
An axe-wielding burglar who was trying to break into the First Family Church in Antioch got caught by the pastor, Nick Neves. The incident began shortly after midnight when an alarm alerted Neves about a break-in. Upon arriving, Neves found a shattered window and the intruder attempting to flee with stolen goods. The burglar attempted to run away which led to a physical struggle in the church’s parking lot.
“As I went to walk into the building, the suspect was coming out with a handful of our stuff,” Neves told Fox News Digital. “I told him to stop, basically putting him under citizen’s arrest,” he added.
Neves, it seemed, wasted little time getting into action. He is trained in mixed martial arts, including jiu-jitsu and kickboxing. “I practice jujitsu and did a little bit of kickboxing training in the past so I know how to defend myself,” he explained. The pastor was able to grab hold of the suspect, and a struggle ensued for about 12 to 15 minutes. “He was very aggressive, but I did my best just to subdue him without doing any harm,” Neves added.
Throughout the struggle, Neves relied on his prior experience to keep the situation contained as much as possible. “Just using positioning, I tried to maintain back control on him so that he wasn’t able to strike effectively,” he stated. Despite being in the middle of an intense altercation, Neves called 911 during his physical altercation with the intruder. “We were on the ground, and I dragged him to where my phone was located,” he told the media outlet.
Shortly after, the Antioch Police Department arrived and took a suspect into custody who was still on scene. Authorities later reported that an axe, which they said the burglar had used to break into the church, was recovered as evidence. Authorities referred to the incident as a “battle of good and evil.” They also commended Neves for having the bravery to go up against the intruder.
In a sermon following the incident, Neves reflected on the encounter, thanking God for his safety while reiterating his commitment to helping others. “God was very gracious and protected me from much harm there,” he told the news outlet. He also hoped that the burglar would think twice about the direction of his life.
The total amount of damage from the break-in is estimated at about $2,000, largely due to broken windows, but that isn’t deterring Neves from continuing his church’s mission to serve their community. First Family Church operates a food pantry which serves approximately 130 families from the local area each week.
Antioch Mayor-Elect Ron Bernal weighed in on the incident, telling KTVU that it’s sad the community feels it must take matters of public safety into its own hands. He said that he looks forward to new leadership that will make a safer environment in Antioch a priority.
As for Pastor Neves, all he can hope for is that this incident will not tarnish the name of his church, but rather highlight their ongoing effort to show their concern for whatever needy people come into their community. “If he has to face the music for what he did, maybe it will inspire him to change his behaviour and seek repentance,” he said.
