Man arrested after pouring whiskey in holy water at Christmas Eve mass, deputies say

ST. MARY'S COUNTY, Md. — A man is facing charges after deputies said he assaulted churchgoers and poured whiskey into the holy water.

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Thomas Campbell Bolling Von Goetz, 56, is facing charges including assault, defacing religious property, disturbing the peace, and threat of mass violence, according to St. Mary County Sheriff’s Office in Maryland.

On Dec. 24 deputies said Von Goetz entered a church during mass.

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He allegedly approached the altar and dropped an onion.

A churchgoer followed Von Goetz out of the church and when outside Von Goetz threw tangerines at them, according to the sheriff’s office.

Later that night during midnight mass at a different church Von Goetz allegedly disrupted services by pouring whiskey into the holy water and threatening to harm parishioners.

While being escorted out of the church, he is accused of trying to hit people with a whiskey bottle.

Deputies arrived and Von Goetz was taken into custody.

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