A wanted Spotsylvania man’s untimely attendance at a church service in Stafford County last night was not enough to avoid incarceration.

On June 11th at 7:39 p.m. Deputy D.S. Jett responded to the shopping complex at 367 Warrenton Road for a wanted person. The Emergency Communications Center had received a tip that Troy Longwell, 52, was at a beauty shop in the complex and had active warrants. The tip also indicated Longwell would run and hide.

Deputy Jett confirmed Longwell was wanted in four different jurisdictions and deputies surrounded the shopping complex. The business owner consented for deputies to check the beauty salon and the “hide and seek” began. Deputies quickly discovered a ceiling tile out of place and a human leg in the crawl space of the ceiling.

Commands were given to surrender, but the leg disappeared in the crawlspace toward a connected business. Sergeant B.U. Demirci and Deputy Jett rushed to the church occupying the next suite, with a service in progress. A shirtless, out of breath subject was subsequently detained in the sanctuary, in the middle of the service. The subject was identified as Longwell.

The investigation revealed Longwell had climbed into the ceiling when deputies arrived at the business. He crawled through the ceiling and dropped into a room behind the sanctuary next door, before walking into the active service. Additionally, a suspected controlled substance was found where Longwell entered the ceiling.

Longwell was served seven active Capias warrants from Fredericksburg, King George, Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance and obstruction in Stafford and held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail.