‘He was lucky’: Off-duty RCMP makes arrest in attempted stabbing of Winnipeg pastor

A 50-year-old man has been charged after he allegedly tried to stab a pastor during a service at a Winnipeg church.

Pawel Olownia was charged after he allegedly approached the altar with a knife during a service Sunday night and went after a 38-year-old pastor.

Video provided by Holy Ghost Parish shows the suspect, who was wearing a yellow jacket, approaching the pastor with what appears to be a knife in his hand. The video then shows the pastor managing to escape the man’s attempted assault. The suspect is then seen stabbing the blade into the altar.

An off-duty RCMP officer, alongside several parishioners, approached the man and detained him.

“The whole incident just transpired and happened pretty darn quick,” said Tony Zoledowsky, who arrested the suspect. “I have never seen something like this happen anywhere I have served, and I have served all over the province (Manitoba).”

Zoledowsky can be heard in the video talking to the suspect saying, “Hey, police, stop. You’re under arrest.”

“I did go up to the altar and I did arrest the individual who was involved here, and I was joined by the other parishioners very quickly,” he said. “Luckily, nobody got hurt and the service continued.”

The pastor involved in the incident declined to comment. Police said the pastor has no memory of ever seeing the suspect before.

Const. Stephen Spencer with the Winnipeg Police Service says incidents like these in churches are rare.

“I’ve been on 22, 23 years and this is the first I’ve seen of this type of incident in a church,” he said. “So, it’s quite different and quite alarming.”

“It did seem to be quite random in fact.”

Olownia is facing several charges, including assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon. He was detained in custody. Police are still investigating a possible motive that led to the incident.

Zoledowksy has been an RCMP officer for 24 years, and was happy to see no one was seriously hurt.

“Father was very close to the suspect, and he was lucky,” he said.” He got away unscathed. He was safe.”

“I’m not just the only person who did anything here. There were a lot of people. I am thankful for everyone who was here.”

“The congregation came together really quickly, and if anything, I hope this actually encourages more people to come (to church).”

By CTV News' Alex Karpa