A Louisiana pastor’s family complained to cops that their neighbor was tormenting them – just months before the preacher allegedly unleashed a vicious beatdown.
Tony Spell’s wife Shaye claimed she was harassed by Scott Sherwin’s son and alleged that he nearly caused a car crash after pursuing her on one occasion, WBRZ reported Thursday.
Shaye, of Baton Rouge, La, filed one police report in May, documenting an alleged incident from March in which she claimed Sherwin’s son, Luke, “flipped” her off before following her in his car and hurling expletives.
“Mrs Spell stated she quickly moved forward out of fear of him approaching her,” police said.
In a second complaint, she claimed she was “flipped” off again by Sherwin’s son while she and her husband were pulling out of the driveway, just days after the first incident.
Shaye alleged Luke “grabbed his crotch” — an act she claimed he had done previously — before pursuing them. She claimed he swerved into their lane, crossing three lanes in the process and nearly causing a crash.
Cops have not named Luke as the victim in Tuesday’s attack.
Officers had warned Scott Sherwin that Luke shouldn’t follow or contact Shaye.
But, the Spells’ reportedly saw the elder Sherwin being told by an officer — and allegedly charged up to him while holding their phones, according to a police report.
Cops ordered the pastor to get back into his truck – and also urged Scott Sherwin to “calm down.”
Sherwin allegedly gesticulated at the pastor – but cops didn’t take any further action.
Spell’s apparent rivalry with the Sherwins dates back to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020, Spell – the pastor of the Life Tabernacle Church – sued Sherwin for installing surveillance cameras at his home.
He claimed the devices were planted “to view those coming and going,” according to the lawsuit seen by The Advocate.
Spell also claimed he had been followed and his phone had been tapped in the civil suit filed against a slew of parties, including Governor John Bel Edwards, and officials from East Baton Rouge Parish.
The lawsuit was filed in May 2020 – just weeks after he was slapped with six misdemeanor counts for flouting a COVID ban on large gatherings.
In 2023, Shaye Spell claimed her neighbor “across the street” moved traffic cones to block her church’s entrance, according to WBRZ.
Spell, pastor of the Life Tabernacle Church, said Wednesday that Sherwin’s son threatened to rape and kill his wife and children as he explained the motive behind the now-viral attack.
He claimed Sherwin’s son hurled expletives while he was changing the battery of one of his buses.
Spell allegedly struck his victim eight times before wrestling him to the ground, where he threw another 27 punches, leaving the man needing five stitches to his chin.
Spell faces up to eight years in prison after being charged with second-degree battery. He defended his actions after being released on bond.
“He said, ‘Tony, I’m going to rape your wife, I’m going to rape all your grandchildren, and the next time you go out of town, I’m going to kill them,’” he told reporters Wednesday, explaining the motive behind the attack.
Spell said he had a “duty and obligation” to protect his family.
“Number one, I’m a husband, number two, I’m a father, and number three, I’m a pastor who shepherds his flock,” he said. “I will not allow a man to murder my children when I’m gone.”
Spell will appear in court on September 15.
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