Griffin, Georgia, Pastor Curtis Bankston Denies Locking Eight People With Disabilities in His Basement

An Atlanta-area pastor charged for allegedly locking folks with disabilities in his basement hit again on Thursday, denying that he’d ever held anybody in opposition to their will. As an alternative, Curtis Bankston’s staff claimed that he’s within the crosshairs of a media assault in opposition to a Black man whose repute is being tarnished.

“I’m disturbed by this continuous assault on Black males in America,” Bankston’s lawyer, Dexter Wimbush, stated throughout a press convention within the precise basement. “It’s unlucky that the information media will spotlight the wrongs that Black males do. However there appears to be this intentional plan to eradicate even the Black males on this nation who’re doing the suitable factor.”

Bankston, the top minister of One Step of Religion Ministries and One Step of Religion 2nd Likelihood in Griffin, was arrested Jan. 13, CBS 46 Atlanta reported. Emergency providers stated they have been referred to as to a house for a affected person having a seizure and as an alternative discovered eight mentally or bodily disabled folks in a dead-locked basement. Crews needed to climb by a window to get to them, FOX 5 Atlanta reviews.

“It’s each horrifying and disgusting to see the diploma to which these people have been taken benefit of by individuals who have been able of belief,” the Metropolis of Griffin Police Division informed FOX 5 in a press release on the time.

The pastor and his spouse, who dwell upstairs, had been utilizing the basement as each a ministry and an unlicensed group-home facility, investigators informed FOX 5.

Bankston has been charged with false imprisonment and accused of controlling authorities funds and advantages given to the residents he homes. Bankston claimed he has no entry to that cash, and that residents’ funds are managed by conservators and monetary representatives. Individually, nonetheless, he claimed that his ministry will get paid to accommodate eight homeless folks within the space. He declined to say who gives these funds.

In a beforehand launched assertion, Wimbush stated, “It’s unlucky that the reviews within the press have been crammed with inaccurate data that has painted Pastor Bankston, his spouse, and his ministry in a destructive mild… First, One Step of Religion-2nd Likelihood Ministries has not been working a bunch residence however a Christian Ministry that provides room and board to people who’ve oftentimes been homeless or wards of the state.”

Bankston appeared on the press convention held in his basement on Thursday however didn’t communicate. As an alternative, a staff of theological colleagues waxed lyrical about his contributions to the group.

“That is merely a Christian man who was following his calling to assist those that are in want. We can not sit by and permit [the] ministry to be attacked,” he stated. “Simply since you don’t have a church with 2,000 or 5,000 folks doesn’t imply you don’t have a calling from the Lord.”

Wimbush alleged that the problem was actually about zoning ordinances which have grow to be criminalized, suggesting that native authorities in Griffin weren’t comfy with the kind of providers Bankston was offering in his basement. Wimbush did acknowledge an incident with a locked door, however claimed nobody was saved in opposition to their will. He stated residents had a curfew and a few needed to be saved inside for his or her security.

“There’s no proof that anyone tried to depart…and couldn’t depart,” he stated. “The scenario arose just because EMS responded.”

Rev. Joseph Miller from the Nationwide Motion Community claimed the arrest was based mostly on a tradition of “racial bias” in Griffin.

“[T]he chief has the ability to tag any expenses on any citizen on this metropolis. And you may criminalize anyone that you just wish to, if you wish to do it. However he additionally has the chance to research completely and with out bias and comply with the information.”

When requested by reporters if Bankston might communicate for himself, Wimbush stepped in.

“Let’s not be naive right here,” he stated, “Something that [Bankston] says, can and will probably be used in opposition to him… He employed me to talk for him.”