When Angie was little, she was known as a sweet girl. She was well behaved. She was a daddy's girl. She loved to sing. She played instruments. She was a lovely long lady who seemed to have a bright future.
Her dad owned his own business. Her mom was a stay at home mom but she handled the bookkeeping for the business. She had six siblings including a baby sister.
She was an obedient child. She was known for her kindness. When she became 16, she began to become rebellious. She began to openly defy her parents and people in the church. She did not grow out of it. It seemed to get worse and worse. They would punish her but still she became more and more defiant.
She would stir things up with her younger siblings. She causes strife in the church with other children her age.
She had been homeschooled. She graduated from high school. She took classes at a community college. She worked for her dad. She started to get in with the wrong crowd. She started using alcohol. She was out late. Her parents were very worried.
The church had a unique system. The church had a jail. It was underneath the church. They had several jail cells. The cell had a mattress and a toilet just like a regular jail cell. The inmates wore uniforms. The sentences we're usually a day or a couple of days. They could be longer.
Her parents Asked for the church court to intervene. Charges could be filled with different methods. The first was if it was brought by the deacons. The deacons were responsible for discipline in the church. A church member could also bring charges. The deacons reviewed them first. The system existed for a long time.
The church was King James' only independent fundamental baptist church. The church was old fashioned and was very strict. The men wore suits and ties, the ladies wore dresses or skirts. Televisions were banned. They could not go to movies. Alcohol consumption was a huge no-no. They wanted limited interaction with the world. Secular employment was permissible. Many did have there own business. Many worked for church members who had there own business. The church had an unofficial and official code of conduct. It was expected that church members would adhere to it. If they did not, there were consequences.
Angie was in her pew. She wore a green t-shirt and a blue skirt. She wore sandals. Officer Julie of the church police went towards her with two of her deputies. "Angie. Come with us." Officer Julie insisted.
Angie tried to run away. One of her deputies forced her to the ground. she tried to getaway. She struck the deputy. The deputy was able to subdue her. "Get off on me witch!" Angie said. "You are a member of this church. You agreed to this. You are under arrest. Submit to my authority now. " officer Julie insisted. "I don't have to. This is bull crap!" She declared.
She slapped on the cuff. She tried to getaway. Julie got on top of her and held her down. She asked one of her deputies to get a restraint chair. Officer chole brought overt a chair. She was placed inside. Her feet were put into restraints. Her sandals were removed. Anyone in the restraint chair had to be barefoot. She was bought to the church courtroom.
The church court system was installed by pastor j Wilber cartwright the third in 1952. Pastor Cartwright had been a prison warden before he felt called to the ministry. He created the church court and prison. Every subsequent pastor continued the practice.
Church court was held on the same day as church banquet and communion. Those being punished could not attend the church dinner. They were fed sandwiches though.
She screamed and cried and carried on as she was brought in. "Order. There will be an order!" The pastor acting as the judge said.
"This is total bull. I do not recognize this sham!" Angie said. "Silence or you will be silenced. Is that understood?" The pastor asked.
"The clerk will read the charges." Pastor Roberts said. "The defendant Angela Greer is charged with disobedience to parents, rebellion against lawful ecclesiastical Authority and general mayhem. " Mrs. Norris the church clerk said.
"How do you plead?" The pastor asked. "Bite me!" She said. The entire assembled members we're gasped. "You will not use such language in the house of the lord young lady. " the pastor said.
"Your honor, she was very disruptive during the arrest process. " officer Julie said. "I am sentencing you to a week in prison," he said. "A week you can't do that," she said. "Yes young lady I can," he said.
She was taken away. She was healed downside. She was taken to the intake. "I got to warn you, Becky, I got A live one. " officer Julie said. "I can handle her jewels." Officer Becky said. Becky and her team took over. "I am going to remove your restraints. Will you cooperate?" Officer Becky asked. "Why should I? This is illegal. You have no real authority. " she said. "You can't escape hearing. Please cooperate. This can be hard or easy. Your choice. " Becky said.
She calmed down slightly. Becky removed her cuffs. Then she removed her feet restraints. "Get up inmate," she said. She got up from the wheelchair.
"Please remove your clothes!" Officer Becky ordered. "I won't. You can't make me. This is indecent. " she said "you have broken the rules of this church. You are being disciplined. I need you to get undressed now!" She insisted. She refused. Officer Becky was not backing down. She would comply one way or another. She was not going to get away with not following the officer's instruction. It was going to happen. Becky would make sure of it.
She pulled off her t shirt. She fought her but Becky got the power hand. She was able to pull the shirt off. Becky then pulled her skirt down to her feet. She unclasped her bra. She pulled off her panties.
She had her take a shower. She put her in an orange t shirts. The t-shirt said "first baptist church Philips inmate." She was given an orange prison issue style skirt. She would be kept barefoot. She was taken to her cell.
The cell was a cubical. It was a box. It was small. There was a mattress. There was a toilet and a sink. There was a Bible. She could not believe this.this was a kidnsping. She would resist with all her being. She was determined not to let them win.
