Pastor Takes Down Burglar At Long Island Church

CENTER MORICHES, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A pastor went above and beyond the call of duty to catch a man who broke into a church on Long Island.

As WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported, the Rev. Michael Janowski of Lamb's Chapel, at 25 Frowein Rd. in Center Moriches, Suffolk County, still cannot believe he caught a suspected thief.

The pastor said it all began when he arrived at the chapel early – around 6 a.m. Thursday – and saw a man going through a front desk looking for cash.

"We just scared the daylights out of each other and both screamed," Janowski said.

The pastor said with one hand, he grabbed the man. With the other he called 911 and then dropped the phone, hoping the 911 operator could hear him.

"I was able to take him down onto the sidewalk ground, and kind of pin him down to the ground," Jankowski said.

The pastor said the man – Brian Cook – then started yelling, "I want to die!" So the pastor then began to pray.

"Out loud, I just started saying, 'God loves you,'" he said.

Cook was arrested and charged with burglary.

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