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Minister, family arrested for allegedly attacking officers at church (Video)

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A local minister, his wife and their two sons were arrested for attacking police officers in Lilburn, authorities told Channel 2 Action News.

Channel 2's Tony Thomas obtained the video that shows the moments the minister's family surrounded an officer, even grabbing his taser.

The incident happened Saturday night at Inglesia Cristiana Evangelica Church located at a strip mall on Highway 29.


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At one point, an officer tried to Taser the son but the son grabbed the prongs and wrapped them up.

One of the officers was pushed against a glass door.

"The officer was grabbed by his throat and slammed into the glass, pinned up to the glass door and was unable to move at that point," Lt. Tim Allen with the Lilburn Police Department said. 

Police told Channel 2 Action News on Monday that officers came to the church after a woman reported she'd spotted her runaway teenage daughter.

"They have my daughter, they won’t let her have communication with me. The lady from the church was yelling at me. They said they had custody from DFACS, but it’s not true," the mother told Thomas.

Authorities say the daughter was found sitting in the back of the minister's SUV with one of his sons.

Wilmer Cruz, 38, and Cristina Cruz, 37, were arrested on numerous charges. A 16-year-old and 17-year-old were also arrested.

The 16-year-old was charged as a juvenile.

The three charged as adults appeared in court Monday afternoon facing felony charges. They are being held without bond.