December Arrest at Sports Venue
On December 18, Dallas police officers took two individuals associated with the "Testimonies of God" ministry into custody outside the American Airlines Center. The detention occurred as the Dallas Mavericks hosted the Detroit Pistons inside the arena.
A widely circulated video clip shows the moment officers placed handcuffs on the two men and seated them on the ground near the venue entrance. The footage, shared by Libs of TikTok on December 23, quickly amassed a significant online viewership.
In the recording, one of the preachers can be heard asking, "You only, what, told me twice?" before an officer takes hold of his arm.
"So what’s the charge, officer?" asked the man recording the video.
The officer responded that the detention was for "interference with public duties."
"So this officer just arrested my fellow brother because he’s on public property and asking questions," the person filming stated.
The officer then escorted the preacher to a group of other officers, who proceeded to handcuff him and place him next to the second individual.
"Why am I being arrested, officer?" the preacher inquired.
"Because I told you to back off twice, and you didn’t do it," the officer answered.
Ministry's Account and Police Response
The ministry later posted about the event on Instagram, explaining that their members were engaged in sharing their religious message with fans arriving for the basketball game.
"We were arrested for preaching Christ on the public sidewalk, yet the Word of God was not hindered. Many souls heard," the ministry wrote. "Many great Gospel conversations had, Bibles were given, and Christ was exalted."
The ministry noted in a social media update that the incident took place "while the game was getting started and fans flooded to the arena." As of the latest reports, Dallas police have not provided arrest documentation or clarified whether formal charges were filed against the individuals. Details regarding the events leading up to the detention have also not been officially disclosed.
"This does not meet our callback criteria. Please follow up with us again tomorrow," a Dallas police media representative told The Dallas Express at 9:15 p.m. on December 23.
The episode has generated considerable discussion on social media platforms, with some commentators questioning the allocation of law enforcement resources, particularly as the city contends with ongoing issues related to violent criminal activity in its downtown core and surrounding areas.
