A Crofton man is charged with burglary and kidnapping after he allegedly forced his way into a Hopkinsville church Thursday night and held a woman inside at knifepoint.
An arrest citation for 60-year old Joseph Smith of Crofton alleges he forced his way into Grace Episcopal Church with a folding knife at about 7:10 p.m. and threw a female inside to the floor, causing a visible injury to her knee.
He then allegedly held a knife to her throat, restrained her and forced her to open a door to let him use a restroom. The woman was then able to lock a door behind Smith to contain him to one area of the church.
Police say Smith refused to put the knife down when officers arrived and he had to be tazed multiple times and still would not drop the knife. After a struggle with several officers, he was taken into custody and placed under arrest.
Smith initially told officers that he was only cleaning his fingernails with the knife, even though he was wearing gloves, and added that holding the knife to the woman’s neck was an accident.
He eventually admitted he knew he was not allowed in the church and that he had been watching the woman before making entry.
Smith was charged with first-degree burglary, kidnapping of an adult, third-degree assault of a police officer and resisting arrest.