Church Deacon Arrested After Allegedly Leaving 4 Kids at Busy Intersection Due to Misbehavior

Menefee, a deacon at Oakridge Baptist Church in Georgia, has been charged with four counts of reckless conduct following an incident on October 11. According to the Albany police incident report, Menefee allegedly kicked four children off the church bus and left them at a busy intersection after they were misbehaving. The children, aged 9 to 12, were reportedly left at the intersection of Westover Boulevard and Gillionville Road, approximately four miles from their home.

The mother of three of the children, who are 12, 11, and 9 years old, claimed to authorities that she could not find her children after they failed to return home. She eventually located the bus and spoke to Menefee, who said he had dropped the children off down the road. The mother was still unable to locate them and drove to the church to speak with the pastor. A relative later informed her that Menefee had told her he kicked the children off the bus because they were cursing and hitting each other.

Menefee allegedly told the relative that he did not tolerate such behavior and that he had decided to remove the children from the bus for the safety of the other children. He claimed he had called the children’s relative to come pick them up but admitted he should have waited for the relative to arrive before driving away. Officers later spoke to Menefee, and he reportedly admitted to leaving the children at the intersection.

Menefee was arrested and taken to the Dougherty County Jail, where he was released after posting bond. It is not yet clear whether he has entered a plea or retained legal counsel. The Albany Police Department has not provided further updates on the case.

The incident raises important questions about the responsibilities of those in positions of authority, particularly within religious institutions. Proverbs 31:8-9 calls for defending the rights of the vulnerable, reminding leaders to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. In this case, the children were left in a dangerous situation, underscoring the need for accountability and care. Ephesians 5:11 encourages believers to expose the deeds of the wicked, which aligns with the pursuit of justice and truth in such matters.

Source: Read the original report