Post by pelicanguy on Apr 2, 2007 12:54:56 GMT -5
Minister charged with sexual assault
Pastor, funeral home operator is accused of attacking acquaintance
By LEE HIGGINS - lhiggins@thestate.com
A veteran Columbia pastor was arrested Wednesday and charged with sexually assaulting a female acquaintance last week at an office at his funeral home.
The Rev. Anthony A. Dicks Sr., 51, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church, is charged with criminal sexual conduct, according to Columbia police.
He was released on bail Wednesday from the Richland County jail.
Dicks is accused of inviting the 47-year-old woman to the chapel at A.A. Dicks Funeral Home on Oak Street at about 10:30 p.m. Friday, according to a police report.
The two watched television in the office area, and Dicks asked her for a hug when she stood to leave, the report said.
When she hugged him, Dicks grabbed on to her, according to the report. She resisted when he started to remove her clothing, the report said.
The report alleges Dicks pushed her onto a chair, continued to remove her clothes, and then sexually assaulted her. The woman pulled away, grabbed her clothing and fled the building, the report said.
On Monday afternoon, she filed a complaint at police headquarters, the report said. The report did not say whether she sought medical attention.
The State generally does not identify sexual assault victims.
Dicks, a married father of four, has been pastor at Friendship Baptist on House Street since 1982, according to the church’s Web site. He ran unsuccessfully for Richland 1 school board in 1994.
He is vice president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Greater Columbia and a member of the Waverly Neighborhood Improvement Protection Association, according to the Web site. He also is a chaplain for the Columbia Fire Department.
Latta R. Thomas, 79, a retired religion professor at Benedict College who taught Dicks and has been a friend of his for decades, was shocked at the charges.
“He never did anything that would make me suspect he would come to this,” Thomas said. “I feel very hurt if it all turns out to be true.”
Dicks has volunteered as a chaplain for the Fire Department for at least the past five years, according to Columbia Deputy Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins.
He has provided comfort to both victims’ families and firefighters at difficult times, Jenkins said.
“A lot of times firefighters, they see a lot of tragic things, and it’s always good to have a person to talk to, a spiritual person to talk to in a time of need,” Jenkins said. “The chaplain I know is a warm, kindhearted person and doesn’t mind giving up his services to help people.”
E. Perry Palmer, 71, a friend of Dicks who used to employ him as funeral director at Palmer Memorial Chapel, the funeral home he owns on Fontaine Road, also was surprised.
Dicks conducted himself in a manner you would expect of a minister, he said.
“He was a decent person.”
Reach Higgins at (803) 771-8570.
Pastor, funeral home operator is accused of attacking acquaintance
By LEE HIGGINS - lhiggins@thestate.com
A veteran Columbia pastor was arrested Wednesday and charged with sexually assaulting a female acquaintance last week at an office at his funeral home.
The Rev. Anthony A. Dicks Sr., 51, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church, is charged with criminal sexual conduct, according to Columbia police.
He was released on bail Wednesday from the Richland County jail.
Dicks is accused of inviting the 47-year-old woman to the chapel at A.A. Dicks Funeral Home on Oak Street at about 10:30 p.m. Friday, according to a police report.
The two watched television in the office area, and Dicks asked her for a hug when she stood to leave, the report said.
When she hugged him, Dicks grabbed on to her, according to the report. She resisted when he started to remove her clothing, the report said.
The report alleges Dicks pushed her onto a chair, continued to remove her clothes, and then sexually assaulted her. The woman pulled away, grabbed her clothing and fled the building, the report said.
On Monday afternoon, she filed a complaint at police headquarters, the report said. The report did not say whether she sought medical attention.
The State generally does not identify sexual assault victims.
Dicks, a married father of four, has been pastor at Friendship Baptist on House Street since 1982, according to the church’s Web site. He ran unsuccessfully for Richland 1 school board in 1994.
He is vice president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Greater Columbia and a member of the Waverly Neighborhood Improvement Protection Association, according to the Web site. He also is a chaplain for the Columbia Fire Department.
Latta R. Thomas, 79, a retired religion professor at Benedict College who taught Dicks and has been a friend of his for decades, was shocked at the charges.
“He never did anything that would make me suspect he would come to this,” Thomas said. “I feel very hurt if it all turns out to be true.”
Dicks has volunteered as a chaplain for the Fire Department for at least the past five years, according to Columbia Deputy Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins.
He has provided comfort to both victims’ families and firefighters at difficult times, Jenkins said.
“A lot of times firefighters, they see a lot of tragic things, and it’s always good to have a person to talk to, a spiritual person to talk to in a time of need,” Jenkins said. “The chaplain I know is a warm, kindhearted person and doesn’t mind giving up his services to help people.”
E. Perry Palmer, 71, a friend of Dicks who used to employ him as funeral director at Palmer Memorial Chapel, the funeral home he owns on Fontaine Road, also was surprised.
Dicks conducted himself in a manner you would expect of a minister, he said.
“He was a decent person.”
Reach Higgins at (803) 771-8570.