Additional Coverage:
- Pastor Tony Spell’s wife details shocking complaints against neighbor before beatdown (themirror.com)
In the months leading up to a recent altercation that resulted in the arrest of Louisiana pastor Tony Spell, his wife, Shaye Spell, reported multiple instances of harassment from neighbors.
According to a complaint filed in May 2026 and reviewed by the WBRZ Investigative Unit, Shaye described an incident in March involving a neighbor, Luke Sherwin. She alleged that Sherwin made an obscene gesture at her, followed her in his truck, shouted profanity, and appeared ready to exit his vehicle while they were stopped at a traffic light.
In another encounter, Shaye said that as she and Tony Spell were backing out of their driveway, Sherwin again made offensive gestures and behaved aggressively. She reported that his truck then dangerously tailgated their vehicle, swerved around them, and nearly caused a collision by cutting across multiple lanes.
A separate 2023 police report details Shaye Spell’s ongoing dispute with the Sherwins, who live across the street from the church. She accused them of moving traffic cones to block the church’s entrance; however, video evidence later showed the cones were placed by a construction crew, and that Shaye and a church security officer had moved the cones themselves.
In May 2026, police spoke with Scott Sherwin, who was advised to instruct his son Luke not to follow or contact Shaye Spell. During the conversation, tensions escalated as Tony and Shaye Spell arrived, recording on their phones, leading to a heated exchange. Authorities intervened but took no further action.
The simmering conflict erupted this week after Tony Spell alleged a neighbor made graphic threats against his family near the church in Baton Rouge. Spell claimed the neighbor threatened to harm his wife and grandchildren.
“I’m a husband, a father, and a pastor,” Spell said. “I will not allow a man to murder my children when I’m gone.”
On Tuesday, Spell was arrested on battery charges following an incident in which he allegedly assaulted the neighbor’s 20-year-old son. Reports indicate that while Spell was working on a church bus battery, the neighbor began shouting from across the street.
Video footage shows Spell crossing a busy four-lane road and physically attacking the young man on a lawn. Police say Spell struck the victim repeatedly, forced him to the ground, and continued to punch and kick him.
The victim sustained injuries requiring five stitches to his chin. Spell faces a second-degree battery charge, carrying a potential prison sentence of up to eight years.
Spell is scheduled to appear in court on September 15 and has maintained that the truth will be revealed during the proceedings.
Court documents reveal that the tensions between Spell and the Sherwins have been ongoing for years. In 2020, Spell filed a lawsuit alleging that neighbors had installed surveillance cameras to monitor him. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Spell also faced citations for holding in-person church services in violation of Louisiana’s social distancing rules.
Following the recent incident, Spell addressed his congregation, likening the event to “domestic terrorism” and citing scripture. “In my name, they shall lay hands on the sick.
And they shall recover,” he stated. “So today, I fulfilled the scripture.
I laid hands on the sick. I don’t know how much recovery they’re going to have, but I laid hands on the sick.”
Spell was released on bond from East Baton Rouge Parish Prison Tuesday evening.