Police chase ends when suspect crashes into church

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A man was arrested Thursday evening after his vehicle crashed into the Gethsemane Church of God on Walnut Street in South Bend.

Steven Holbert was arrested and has been charged with fleeing the scene of an accident and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Hobert's truck moved the church's foundation a quarter of an inch, broke the phone line and damaged their electrical wiring.

"The corner from where the impact occurred made the sanctuary shift. There's a crack in the ceiling, crack around the bottom, and even the camera that is in the ceiling has also shifted," said John Brown, Pastor of Gethsemane Church of God.



Brown has already contacted contractors about fixing the damage.



"I was glad that the individual wasn't hurt. If it's a choice between a building or a person getting hurt I'd rather it be the building but we also want to make sure we can still do the work God has called us to do here," said Brown.



Connected to the church is Angel's Wings Ministry, a food pantry that many people in this neighborhood depend on.



Brown hopes the expense of repairing the church won't take away from the number of food baskets they can give out during the holidays.