Assaulted men held; suspect is released
Chattanooga Times
Randy Arnold
1980
Four men, including the head of the Vine Christian Community Church, were ordered held under $5,000 bond each at the City Jail as state witnesses Monday, and a man charged with assaulting them was freed on his own recognizance.
Joseph William Heflin, 55, of 1903 Bennett Ave. was charged with assault shortly after noon Monday after a confrontation at Seventh and Market Streets with members of the church who were trying to solicit funds. Heflin is charged with assaulting Elbert Eugene Spriggs, 43, Ricky Lee Kendrick, 27, and Charles Edward Wiseman, 32. Spriggs is the leader of the Vine Christian Community Church.
Spriggs and the other two men, who listed their address as a postal box in Island Pond, Vt., were arrested as state witnesses along with Gary Edward Gilbreath, 30, who gave his address as 1100 McCallie Ave. the address of the church. Gilbreath is an elder of the church.
Police said the church members were in the 700 block of Market Street preaching and attempting to solicit funds when Heflin apparently began shoving the men.
Heflin was placed under $500 bond at City Jail, but he was allowed to sign his own bond with the permission of City Court Judge Doug Meyer. Meyer said he was aware of the man’s background and was sure he would appear in court.
Judge Bill Cox, who set the bonds, said the reason for the large amount was to ensure the presence of the men in court. Judge Cox said he was not certain if he had ever set a similar bond in order to ensure a court appearance.
Members of the Vine Christian Community Church had no comment when asked about the arrest of the amount of the bond.
The church came under scrutiny last December when the parents of two congregation members took them away and Ted Patrick deprogrammed them. Patrick, nationally known for his “deprogramming” efforts, later told stories alleging poor living conditions and the thumping of church members. The church denied all allegations, and no court action was taken.
