TYLER – A Jacksonville man who allegedly threatened members of a Cherokee County church Sunday morning remains in the Smith County Jail on a $10,000 bond for unlawful possession of a firearm by felon.
Rasheed Abdul Aziz, 40, was arrested at approximately 8:20 p.m. Sunday by Smith County deputies after they responded to a call at Beautiful Hills Drive in Flint, according to a press release issued Monday by the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.
According to the release, the sheriff's office was contacted about 2:10 p.m. Sunday by a caller from Corinth Church, located on FM 346 near Lake Palestine.
The release said a caller stated that an unknown black male suspect — later identified as Aziz — wearing a camouflage helmet, camouflage pants, tactical vest and boots entered the church around 2 p.m. The caller also stated that they could see what appeared to be a pistol in his pocket.
The caller added that “the suspect appeared distressed and made the statement that he was a man of Islam, and that God had told him to 'slay infidels,'” according to the release, which noted that “several parishioners brought Aziz into a room away from others at the church while the caller made contact with the Sheriff's Office.”
However, Aziz fled the scene before deputies arrived at the church, and was seen traveling north ...
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