EVANS
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In November, Chad Joseph Evans was arrested for allegedly making terroristic threats.
The 42-year-old Marysville man allegedly threatened to take a gun to the local Agape service on Chestnut Street.
“He made comments to people attending the church that he would show up and shoot the pastor first and then shoot other people attending,” Marysville Assistant Police Chief Tony Brooks said.
Brooks said Evans had attended the church in the past. He said Evans, who has a history of domestic violence, and his wife were going through some “personal conflict” and had received some counseling through the church.
The pastor was warned and law enforcement was contacted. Investigators learned this was not the first time Evans had threatened church staff and members.
“When you make threats to shoot multiple people in a gathering like this, we have to take that very seriously,” Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips said.
Evans, of 11480 U.S. 36, Lot 74, has been indicted by the grand jury, charged with one count of making terroristic threats, a felony of the third degree. If convicted, Evans could face as many as five years in prison.
Local law enforcement officials say a rise in church shootings has changed the way attenders think.
“I think it has, just judging even from my own experiences at my own church,” Brooks said.
He said he knows of other law enforcement officials and first responders who have been asked about critical incidents.
“Do I think churches have become a bigger target than anyplace else? I don’t know that they are,” Brooks said. “It is just the shock that something like this could happen in a place like a church.”
He said that historically, churches have been seen as sacred and people “always respected it” that churches were off limits, even for bad guys.
“I think that is part of what shocks the conscience about these shootings,” Brooks said.
He added that church has always been a place where people feel safe to be vulnerable.
“If you are out to do evil, what better place than the House of the Lord,” Brooks said.
He said the shootings have helped bring church security “into finer focus.”
Brooks said the Marysville Division of Police is one of several agencies in the area working to help churches address security concerns.
“We have already met with several churches,” Brooks said. “We met with a large gathering of administrators of churches in the city and the county.”
He said the division offers security training, similar to ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate). He said the training addresses a wide variety security issues,
Sheriff Jamie Patton said his office has long offered a House of Worship training, but interest has increased after a church shooting in Texas two months ago.
The sheriff said his program is intended for churches and “geared toward preparedness for not just a shooter, but for any disaster — flood, tornado, a shooter, just being prepared for all sorts of situations.”
The sheriff said participants seemed “very impressed.”
“I think we are trying to put on some additional trainings,” Patton said, adding that he likes to have a larger church host the event and invite other groups to join. He said that allows churches in different stages of creation and implementation of a security plan work together.
Plain City Police Chief Dale McKee is offering the village’s first training of this sort later this month.
“We have a lot of churches interested, a lot of churches on board, a wide variety of churches,” McKee said.
He said the program will be held at the Plain City Elementary School, at 6 p.m., Jan. 31, to accommodate all the interest.
Like the others, McKee said it is important to have a plan.
“If someone wants to attack a church, they are going to attack a church. There is no way to 100 percent prevent that,” McKee said. “But there are things you can do to lessen the risk and to mitigate the impact and the losses if it does. That’s where it comes down to having a plan in place”
McKee said he will likely put together additional trainings in the future. Those interested in attending the upcoming training are asked to contact the Plain City Police Department before Jan. 22.
“If you miss this training or can’t come, they are always more than welcome to contact me or Det. (Phil) Greenbaum with questions or we will help them develop a plan.”
Marysville Division of Police and the Union County Sheriff’s Office also invite churches, groups and individuals to contact them if they have questions or to schedule a training.
McKee and Patton both said much of the information is common sense, but often groups need reminded.
“I would give someone going to church the same advice I would give to someone going anywhere, whether they were going to the store or out to eat or to the movies or their kids’ school: be aware of your surroundings,” Brooks said. “If you see something that doesn’t look right, or something just doesn’t feel right, say something, give someone a call. I would rather respond and it be nothing, than to look back and say ‘I wish we had done something.’”