Associate pastor of Columbia church on leave after ‘Murph for Mayor’ sign stealing accusation
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
An associate pastor from Columbia's Broadway Christian Church has been put on leave after his arrest Friday for allegedly stealing campaign signs for a Columbia mayoral candidate.
Andrew Peck, 46, was arrested by sheriff's deputies for allegedly stealing signs for candidate Blair Murphy near South Scott Boulevard.
Broadway Christian Church board chairman Darren Day said Peck has worked at the church for eight months. In an email Monday morning, Day said Peck was placed on administrative leave.
Capt. Brian Leer of the Boone County Sheriff's Office said an employee at Coastal Electric on Scott Boulevard called Boone County Joint Communications and said they saw a man in the company's parking lot with a "Murph for Mayor" campaign sign.
"They saw the guy go into a vehicle, a blue Prius, and was able to get into vehicle and follow the vehicle and get a description plate and call it into joint communications," Leer said.
Deputies were later notified by the Columbia Police Department that the vehicle was found and Peck was detained on Broadway.
"Through the investigation, it revealed that he had taken the signs, there were five signs total, a few large ones and a couple small ones, he had taken those down in the area of Scott Boulevard ... and disposed of them in two different dumpsters," Leer said.
Peck was arrested and booked into the Boone County Jail on a stealing charge. According to jail records, Peck posted a $500 bond.
Peck did not reply to a message seeking comment from ABC 17 News on Monday. He has yet to be formally charged.
"Broadway Christian Church does not condone or support this behavior," the church said in a written statement Monday. "These actions do not reflect the values of our church or our commitment to community respect and unity. This person has been placed on administrative leave as we work through this issue."
The statement added, "As a church, we believe in holding one another accountable while also offering compassion, grace, and space for personal growth. Broadway Christian Church remains committed to being a welcoming and inclusive place for all people, regardless of political affiliation or background. We do not support any political party or ideology. Our mission is to enable persons to encounter the living God as disclosed through Jesus Christ, to serve and celebrate God in an ever-changing society."
Murphy is running for mayor against incumbent Barbara Buffaloe, Tanya Heath and write-in Lucio Bitoy in Tuesday's municipal elections.
