Two men are suspected of becoming aggressive toward church staff members earlier this week after being given food that didn’t meet their expectations at St. Columba Catholic Church in Durango.
One man was cited with disorderly conduct and another was cited for menacing – both misdemeanors, said Amanda Garrison, spokeswoman with the Durango Police Department.
The incident was reported about 10:40 a.m. Tuesday at the church’s food pantry, 1833 East Second Ave., which provides free, nonperishable groceries to those in need.
The two men visited the food bank Tuesday morning.
“They didn’t appreciate the food that they were given,” Garrison said. “It was like canned goods, and they said they didn’t have a way of opening it or cooking it. They went to their vehicle and retrieved a bat and were kind of menacing with the bat.”
The men aren’t suspected of directly threatening staff members, but the man holding the bat acted in a menacing way, hitting the ground several times, she said.
“The employee told him, ‘If you don’t like it, just leave it and go,’” Garrison said.
They left in their vehicle and police were called.
Officers located and stopped the vehicle in the 1500 block of Main Avenue, near Pet Haus.
“Everyone was removed from the vehicle and detained without incident,” Garrison said.
The men, who were from California, were cited and released.
An employee with St. Columba referred media inquiries to the Diocese of Pueblo.
“We are thankful no one was hurt,” Bishop Stephen Berg said in an email statement. “Thank you for the quick response from the Durango Police Department. All parties involved are in our prayers. The food pantry will continue to operate as usual.”
shane@durangoherald.com
