Man Breaks Into Florida Church, Baptizes Himself Before Stealing Money
By Zuri Anderson
August 7, 2023
A Georgia man is facing charges after authorities caught him in an unusual burglary at a Florida church. The Bay County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to reports of a burglary at the Emerald Beach Church of God on Alf Coleman Road in Panama City Beach on Friday (August 4).
Deputies allege Derek Porter smashed a window with a cinderblock to enter the church, prompting the woman working inside to flee after she heard the noise. Porter reportedly caused $8,000 worth of damage to the church, took the institution's money bag, and loaded several stolen electronics into his pickup truck, including a television and a computer.
Panama City Beach police officers and BCSO deputies pulled up to the scene and arrested Porter, who allegedly had methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia on him. While questioning the suspect, Porter told cops he couldn't remember what happened while he was inside the church.
“He did remember however baptizing himself in the church’s baptistry pool,” deputies noted. “Porter claims ‘something’ was holding his head down under the water while in the pool.”
GEORGIA MAN BAPTIZES SELF DURING BURGLARY AT BEACH CHURCH (Bodycam footage of detained suspect and deputies clearing the building when K9 decides to beat the heat and cool off in baptismal.) August 4, 2023 The Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced today the arrest of a Georgia man who has been charged with Burglary of an Occupied Structure, Criminal Mischief, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. On August 4th, 2023, BCSO responded to a Burglary call at the Emerald Beach Church of God off of Alf Coleman Rd. Deputies discovered Derek Porter from Georgia had used a cinder block to smash the window of the church to enter inside. A female employee was inside the church at the time and fled for safety upon hearing the glass breaking. While inside, Porter caused approximately $8,000 worth of damage to the church. Porter then loaded several electronics including a television and a computer into his truck along with the church’s money bag. Methamphetamine and paraphernalia were also found on Porter. PCBPD was also on the scene and assisted in the arrest. Porter stated he could not remember what happened during various moments inside the church. He did remember however baptizing himself in the church’s baptistry pool. Porter claims “something” was holding his head down under the water while in the pool. Porter was out on bond for burglary in Georgia.
Posted by Bay County Sheriff's Office on Friday, August 4, 2023
The accused burglar wasn't the only one who took a dip in the baptismal. Body camera footage shows a BCSO K9 jumping into the holy waters to "beat the heat and cool off."
Porter is now facing charges of burglary of an occupied structure, criminal mischief, possession of meth, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was already out on bond for a separate burglary charge in Georgia, according to BSCO.