University of Tennessee Student Arrested After Speaking Out Against Preacher on Campus (VIDEO)
ByA University of Tennessee Chattanooga (UTC) student was arrested Thursday after trying to approach a preacher on campus when he then resisted police and ignored their warnings, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported.
Cole Montalvo, 24, apparently wanted to speak to Angela Cummings, a woman who has been on UTC's campus recently and has been practicing open air preaching since 2001. Montalvo rode his bicycle past cones signaling an area he should not be in and reportedly was told by police several times to back away.
The cones were put in place to set up a wide perimeter around Cummings, who has been met by students with adversity in the past. Despite the students' outspoken opposition to Cummings, school administrators said she is permitted to be on campus as long as she gives advanced notice.
UTC Police Sgt. Willie Trueitt, the arresting officer, wrote in the incident report he instructed Montalvo to back up five times before arresting him. He also wrote he attempted to spray him with mace, but missed his face. Trueitt and three other officers wrestled Montalvo to the ground before putting him in handcuffs.
A group of UTC students have started a petition on Change.org directed at school president Dr. Joe Dipietro. According to the petition, the group would like the school to no longer allow a preacher to "stand in the middle of campus and scream at students."
"She has not come with a message of love or peace, as Jesus taught," the petition reads. "She insists on screaming at the top of her lungs that we are all going to hell, Westboro Baptist style. She has parked herself in one of the busiest areas of campus, directly in front of the library, Brock Hall, and Grote Hall."
The students even wrote that some professors have to cancel classes because her shouting is audible through the windows and is too distracting to hold class.
In a separate YouTube video, posted by Cummings, the incident can be seen from the start of her speech. Early on, she calls students adulterers and adulteresses. Montalvo can be heard shouting at one point, "Hey ma'am, if you're trying to spread the good word, maybe you shouldn't be telling everyone that they're sinners."
According to the Chattanoogan, Montalvo was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, obstruction of justice and inciting a riot. It is not yet clear what punishment the 24-year-old will face.
CLICK HERE for Cummings' video and HERE for a video posted by an onlooker. WARNING: both videos contain profanity.