A Serbian Orthodox church pastor was arrested Monday, a week after he allegedly threatened to shoot a parishioner during an apparent dispute over church policy but ended up being shot himself.
The Rev. Filip Velisavljevic, 54, cooperated with police who took him into custody Monday morning, Lebanon Police Sgt. Steve Collins said.
District Justice Thomas Capello set US$10,000 bail for the pastor of the Church of the Holy Resurrection of Christ. He was later released from the Lebanon County Prison after making bail, prison officials said.
Velisavljevic, who has been with the church for 15 years, is accused of threatening Frederick Pantelich during an apparent argument over how church policy might change as a result of Pantelich's recent election as council president. Pantelich is to assume the post next month.
According to a police affidavit, Velisavljevic pulled out a semiautomatic pistol and pointed it at Pantelich during the alleged confrontation inside the church's social hall.
The scuffle continued outside after Pantelich tried to flee. As the two struggled, the gun went off, grazing the pastor's foot. Both men were treated at a local hospital.
Velisavljevic was charged with simple assault, unlawful restraint, reckless endangerment and making terroristic threats. Court officials said he did not have an attorney, and no court date had been scheduled for him to enter a plea.
A woman who answered the telephone Monday at Velisavljevic's house said the pastor was not available for comment.
Pantelich did not immediately return a telephone message left at his home Monday.
Helen Resanovich, the council's newly elected vice president, said in a published report that the confrontation was related to disputes between Serbian-American parishioners and those who have recently immigrated from Serbia over how the church should conduct its social functions.