CONTROVERSIAL New York bling pastor Bishop Lamor Whitehead has been arrested after allegedly manhandling a woman during Sunday service.
In the footage from his church's livestream, Whitehead, 44, is interrupted by a woman from the congregation before he grabs her by the neck to push her out of the frame.
This incident comes just months after Whitehead, who leads a local chapter of the Leaders of Tomorrow International Ministries in Brooklyn, was robbed of $400,000 at gunpoint during service as thieves held a firearm to his baby’s face.
Following the latest incident, the pastor, who was wearing a Dior suit, was cuffed and taken by police, but released two hours later, local media reported on Monday.
Whitehead told the New York Daily News the police released him after "higher-ups" in the department heard of his situation.
The church leader defended himself for the alleged physical confrontation caught during his live streamed sermon, claiming the woman and an unidentified individual were sent in to disrupt his service.
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In a Facebook video published after the incident, the pastor claimedthe woman interrupted his service as a retaliation to lawsuits he filed against two YouTubers who claimed he had been pilfering money from his congregation.
He also said that the narrative of the physical incident is not true.
"There are many things going on and so much stuff that is trending […] and I want my church and the people to understand where we are," Whitehead said in the Facebook video.
"The NYPD failed me today and failed my church today."
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"This is a design and an attack of the enemy" the pastor claimed. "We had two people to come into the church [sic] and they were sent by some bloggers. They are nobodies.
"The media has painted a picture of me being a villain, which I am not.
"Today, there was an outburst in my church […] my team has done some internal research. We know who sent them."
The allegations came out after the shocking video showed Whitehead being targeted by armed robbers who stole $400,000 in jewellery including a $75,000 Rolex watch, a $75,000 Cavalier watch, and a $25,000 Episcopal ruby and diamond ring.
The NYPD said it is investigating the incident and a spokesperson for NYC Mayor Eric Adam's office released a statement in the wake of the crime.
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"No one in this city should be the victim of armed robbery, let alone our faith leaders and congregants worshiping in a House of God," the statement read.
"The NYPD is investigating this crime and will work tirelessly to bring the criminals involved to justice."
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