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Pastor EJ Newton was allegedly detained by Miami police officers while delivering a sermon at his 433 Church. As reported by Baller Alert on January 5, he was called by the police in the middle of his service as part of a parental kidnapping case. He has since addressed the incident on Instagram.
In videos circulating online, EJ Newton can be seen delivering a message on stage when he stops midway as someone off-camera requests to speak with him. He then takes his microphone off and encourages his congregation to pray as he makes his way to the police.
Other videos uploaded by Newton on his Instagram account showed authorities standing outside his church and, at one point, going through patrons’ vehicles.
For those uninitiated, EJ Newton is a Christian minister who founded and launched his own ministry, Great Grace Ministries. He is also a gospel singer known as Jay Newton. The Nigerian-born is best known for songs like Falling & Trick, Bad To Me, and KILL PERSON, among others.
More about EJ Newton as he addresses interaction with police on social media
According to EJ Newton’s official website, he teaches the "Word of God" primarily through healing, prayer, prophecy, and scriptures. His mission includes spreading the message of the importance of salvation, “transformation, and living a godly life.”
As mentioned earlier, Newton is also a gospel singer. He has released several tracks, including Never Go Back, You Still Love Me, Wonderful, and Congratulations. Additionally, he has collaborated with multiple musicians, including Vanessa Mdee, Walshy Fire, Ice Prince, Nonso Amadi, and Konshens.
He is the author of several books, including Exposing Occultism in the Church, Friend of Jesus Christ, and TRUE DELIVERANCE: The Fall of Satan.
When Newton addressed his interactions with the police on Instagram, he claimed that he was being attacked with “false accusations.” He stated that these accusations were made by the people who recruited his ex-wife. Further explaining why the police approached him, Newton shared that he was accused of attempting to flee the country amid a “parenting schedule case.” EJ Newton added:
“A judge granted an emergency extraction. They had people come also into the service which we spotted. This whole thing has been so weird but let me be clear- I am not fleeing. I never planned to go anywhere. Now, they’re searching members’ cars and preventing them from leaving church grounds.”
Baller Alert also reported that Newton took to social media to claim that he was detained by the police because he was “speaking up against occultism and witchcraft in the church.”
Meanwhile, the news outlet revealed that blogger Larry Reid claimed on the internet that EJ Newton’s ex-wife accused him of kidnapping their children and failing to return them, which led to the police visit. Reid alleged that law enforcement did not exit the church grounds until Newton’s children and their passports were returned to their mother.
