A Braselton man was arrested Tuesday at a Flowery Branch church after allegedly threatening five employees. Travis Patrick Pinson, 34, specifically threatened to kill four of those employees.
Pinson entered the Covenant Connections Church on Atlanta Highway. He was dressed in black karate attire – a gi – and was armed with a Bokken wooden sword.
Hall County deputies responded to the 911 call at 10 a.m., and evacuated the church upon arrival. They then found Pinson screaming in a room.
Officers attempted to negotiate with the upset man, but Pison became more agitated. He flipped tables, chairs and destroyed other church property
Pison refused commands to calm down and was eventually handcuffed by police.
No one was injured in the incident, and Pinson was later taken to the hospital for evaluations. He was jailed several hours after.
Pinson has been charged with: five counts of terroristic threats and acts, one count of aggravated assault, one count of vandalism to a place of worship, one count of preventing or disrupting a lawful meeting/gathering, one count of obstruction of an officer during the course of an arrest and possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.
