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| SEN. JASON RAPERT TAKES A SWING AT FATHER JOSEF STALGRIN |
State Senator Jason Rapert (R-Bigelow) was photographed taking a swing at Father Josef Stalgrin of St. Catherine of Cadron Creek Catholic Church this past weeked at Lowes in Conway.
Father Stalgrin was at Lowe's to bless some lumber and as he was leaving he ran into Rapert in the parking lot. Stalgrin told Rapert he was a constituent and asked him if he would join him in prayer. Rapert became incensed that a Catholic priest would ask him to do anything, and Rapert went on a tirade about the Catholic Church and how their doctrine is evil and all their priests are pedophiles.
Stalgrin, shocked by Rapert's outburst and believing him to be possessed, quickly walked away from Rapert.
Later in the day, Rapert began making bizarre tweets, many of which contained threats of violence.
An unidentified acquaintance of Rapert's called the Faulkner County Sheriff's office and asked them to conduct a welfare check at Rapert's residence. Upon arrival, deputies found Rapert running around his home, screaming at the top of his lungs that the world was ending while carrying a copy of the Arkansas Times.
A quick search of the home by the deputies revealed a cache of weapons and disturbing photographs and writings of Rapert. One photo resembled the famous photo of Lee Harvey Oswald found after the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
Another photo depicted Rapert dressed as Jesus.
Deputies quickly obtained a commitment order and transported Rapert to the State Hospital in Little Rock. In a hearing conducted over closed circuit television, Rapert claimed the court had no authority to hold him and only a heavenly court could pronounce any binding judgment. That remark and other ramblings resulted in a 45 day commitment order for Rapert to remain at the State Hospital.
