Pastor Who Held Burglar At Gunpoint Says He Forgives Him

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS, FL — A Seminole Heights church pastor held a burglar at gunpoint Thursday morning until Tampa Police arrived to arrest the intruder.

The Rev. Brant Adams of Seminole Heights Baptist Church, who lives near the church at 801 E. Hillsborough Ave., was notified that an alarm at the church had gone off at 12:40 a.m. He grabbed his handgun and headed over to see what was happening.

When he arrived, he found a rear window smashed with a brick and the church lights were on. Inside, a stranger was rifling through an office desk.

Adams displayed his gun, ordered the man to get on the floor and then waited for police to arrive.

During that time, Adams said he talked to the burglar.

"You're stealing from people who need help with their mental work; you're stealing from people who need food; you're stealing from people who are trying to help them," Adams recalled saying to the man.

In fact, said Adams, the church would have gladly helped the man if he'd only knocked on the door and asked.

Adams said the man, later identified as Miguel Otero-Rivera, 49, of Tampa was contrite, saying he was sorry several times.

Otero-Rivera was arrested and charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure, grand theft, possession of burglary tools, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond was set at $8,500.

In addition to breaking the window, the burglar kicked down several doors in the historic church. Adams said repairs will cost several thousand dollars.

"He many not have left with anything, but he definitely stole from people because of the destruction that he caused," Adams said.

Adams said he forgives Ortero-Rivera but intends to testify in court if called.

"God is a just God," Adams said. "But he did something wrong. He hurt people."