Police arrest Lufkin First Baptist pastor after domestic violence call

LUFKIN, TX (KTRE) - Lufkin police arrested First Baptist Church Senior Pastor Andy Pittman following a domestic disturbance call Tuesday morning.

Pittman was charged with Class A assault causing bodily injury/family violence.

According to police, Pittman and a woman living at the home acknowledged they had been in an argument that resulted in Pittman pushing the woman into a door.

Police say she did not have visible injuries but did complain of pain in her arm. The woman said she did not want Pittman to be arrested.

"Unfortunately, when it comes to family violence our hands get tied," said Lufkin Police spokesman David Casper.

The 911 call came in around 7:30 a.m. from a second family member who was home at the time of the alleged incident.

"We're all caught off guard right now," said Aubrey Knox, the associate pastor at the church. "Our biggest concern is to pray for them. Hopefully there can be restoration in this. At this point we don't know what to do."

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