Attack on woman at church disturbs pastor

Police: Woman fought off attacker, locked herself in closet, called 911

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The pastor of a Lakewood church where police said a woman fought off an attacker Wednesday night said he's troubled that the attacker is still out there.

Pastor Mike Reed of San Jose Baptist Church said he was disturbed to hear that a woman who has worked at the church for years was attacked by a man with a knife while taking out the trash just after 9 p.m.

Police said the woman fought back and managed to escape, but not before he ripped out one of her earrings and cut her with the knife.

Officials said the woman was able to get back inside the church and locked herself in a storage closet while the man continued to chase her.

According to police, the woman pulled out her cellphone and was able to contact authorities, who quickly set up a perimeter around the church. They were unable to locate a suspect but did recover the knife he was carrying.

The woman was taken to Memorial Hospital with minor injuries but was not admitted.

Reed said she works at the church every Wednesday taking care of children and cooking meals, and he's glad that she is doing OK.

"You can ask anyone in our church, she is a true servant," Reed said. "That's just the kind of person she is. She is a person who gives of her time and energy to meet the needs of others."

He said nothing like that has happened at the church before and the incident was very disturbing.

"Very sad. This is a very good lady, very intelligent. She did the right things in response. She's a hard-working, good Christian woman," Reed said. "It saddens me that any organization, church or any organization would have a situation where people can't do their activities in a free manner or without feeling a sense of being insecure in some way."

Reed said the church is on alert now.

So are other churches in the area, including Lakewood United Methodist Church across the street. Two weeks ago, that church was vandalized. Someone broke stone benches (pictured) and ripped down lights, signs and security cameras.

"It's very devastating," Lakewood United Methodist pastor Bill Shuck said of the vandalism.

The church has made some repairs and some changes to church security. Now no one there walks by themselves at night or stays at the church alone.

San Jose Baptist is making changes, too.

News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith said because the dumpster is in the back of the building, it would be wise to either wait until daylight to take out the trash or to make sure no one does that alone in the future.

Police are still looking for the attacker, who is described as a white man with a scruffy beard, wearing an Army jacket, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 904-630-0500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.