Catholic priest arrested on drug charges
By TOM McLAUGHLIN, Daily News Staff Writer
Northwest Florida Catholics have been asked to pray for a Milton priest accused of dealing drugs from his church rectory and a condominium he kept on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
Father Thomas Crandall, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Milton, was arrested Saturday while carrying 900 tablets of ecstasy and nearly 10 grams of methamphetamine, according to U.S. Attorney's Office documents released Monday.
Another 15 grams of methamphetamine and four more tablets of ecstasy were found later at Crandall's home, authorities said.
He has been charged with conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
The Drug Enforcement Agency made the arrest
with the help of Santa Rosa and Escambia sheriff's deputies. A confidential infor-mant - arrested in December in possession of 42 ecstasy tablets - led officers to the priest, the U.S. Attorney's records indicate.
Crandall, 47, was driving between New Orleans and Milton when he was pulled over on the night of the arrest, according to the affidavit of DEA special agent Sonya Bryant. Prior to the arrest he had been communicating with the law enforcement confidential source from a condominium he kept on Bourbon Street.
Arrest records indicate that Crandall had obtained the drugs he was found traveling with as partial payment of a debt of $6,000 a source in New Orleans owed him.
Crandall had arranged for the man who was working with narcotics agents to sell the ecstasy tablets he was bringing to Milton.
The report also indicates the confidential source used to arrest Crandall also owed the priest approximately $1,600.
Some of the details of the proposed drug deal were discussed in Crandall's Milton home. The police informer told officers Crandall had provided him with methamphetamine during a visit to his residence.
Bishop John Ricard addressed St. Rose of Lima parishioners Sunday. In a news release issued the same day he called upon "the Catholic faithful" of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee "to pray for all who are affected by this tragedy."
"May healing and comfort come to all of us who are feeling the effects of this unfortunate event," Ricard said.
Ricard said he was "deeply concerned" about the impact Crandall's arrest would have on the church and entire Northwest Florida community, "especially youth."
"I am also concerned about the harm that may have been done to others should this charge prove to be true," the bishop said.
Crandall had been the pastor of St. Rose of Lima church for about three years. Monday he was being held in the Escambia County Jail.
Gayle Kinsley, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Pensacola, offered no comment about the case and declined to say whether more arrests could result from the DEA investigation.
Lt. Woody Seevers of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office also had no comment on the arrest or investigation.
http://www.nwfdailynews.com/archive/news/020115news2.html
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By TOM McLAUGHLIN, Daily News Staff Writer
Northwest Florida Catholics have been asked to pray for a Milton priest accused of dealing drugs from his church rectory and a condominium he kept on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
Father Thomas Crandall, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Milton, was arrested Saturday while carrying 900 tablets of ecstasy and nearly 10 grams of methamphetamine, according to U.S. Attorney's Office documents released Monday.
Another 15 grams of methamphetamine and four more tablets of ecstasy were found later at Crandall's home, authorities said.
He has been charged with conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
The Drug Enforcement Agency made the arrest
with the help of Santa Rosa and Escambia sheriff's deputies. A confidential infor-mant - arrested in December in possession of 42 ecstasy tablets - led officers to the priest, the U.S. Attorney's records indicate.
Crandall, 47, was driving between New Orleans and Milton when he was pulled over on the night of the arrest, according to the affidavit of DEA special agent Sonya Bryant. Prior to the arrest he had been communicating with the law enforcement confidential source from a condominium he kept on Bourbon Street.
Arrest records indicate that Crandall had obtained the drugs he was found traveling with as partial payment of a debt of $6,000 a source in New Orleans owed him.
Crandall had arranged for the man who was working with narcotics agents to sell the ecstasy tablets he was bringing to Milton.
The report also indicates the confidential source used to arrest Crandall also owed the priest approximately $1,600.
Some of the details of the proposed drug deal were discussed in Crandall's Milton home. The police informer told officers Crandall had provided him with methamphetamine during a visit to his residence.
Bishop John Ricard addressed St. Rose of Lima parishioners Sunday. In a news release issued the same day he called upon "the Catholic faithful" of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee "to pray for all who are affected by this tragedy."
"May healing and comfort come to all of us who are feeling the effects of this unfortunate event," Ricard said.
Ricard said he was "deeply concerned" about the impact Crandall's arrest would have on the church and entire Northwest Florida community, "especially youth."
"I am also concerned about the harm that may have been done to others should this charge prove to be true," the bishop said.
Crandall had been the pastor of St. Rose of Lima church for about three years. Monday he was being held in the Escambia County Jail.
Gayle Kinsley, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Pensacola, offered no comment about the case and declined to say whether more arrests could result from the DEA investigation.
Lt. Woody Seevers of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office also had no comment on the arrest or investigation.
http://www.nwfdailynews.com/archive/news/020115news2.html
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