Rodney Howard-Browne, the pastor of a Tampa Bay Church, made national headlines Sunday when he held two crowded services despite government orders not to do so. The church offered bus transportation to the event and the online video-stream showed packed crowds applauding.

The pastor argued that his congregation was as essential as a Walmart store. Police disagreed and arrested him. Charges included “violation of public health emergency order” and “unlawful assembly.”

According to the jail, Howard-Browne was released after 40 minutes from Hernando County.

Source: Fox News