It's 2 p.m. at a church in St. Cloud, [music] Florida, where police respond to, get this, a report of a priest biting a visitor. >> Nice to meet you. Um, we got a call that someone got bit at the church. >> Yeah. >> Oh, I was watching the video of what happened, but >> Okay. Can I watch it with you or? >> Yeah. >> Did you see it happen? Well, it doesn't show that much. >> One churchgoer plays back a YouTube stream of the service for police that allegedly shows the altercation she says was sparked by the priest refusing to give the woman communion. [music] She just like >> Yeah, looks like she's trying to take it. >> Yes, she's trying to take it for us. That's the body of Christ. So that's >> Let's get a closer look as one officer reviews the video. Watch closely as the woman seen here approaches the priest to receive communion. >> [music] [music] >> Is there in in the the process for this does does he have to hand it to her like does he have to place it in her mouth? >> She has to put their head her hands in a specific way. So if she doesn't put her hands in a specific way, >> but he doesn't have to put in her mouth. He can just put in her hand. She just has to hold her hand or >> either or. So that's one of the reason why he knew that she was not prepared because she wanted to grab it like this. >> But you have to do a temple. That's how we call it. You do a temple to receive the body of Christ. >> So it looks like they're having like a a conversation before that. And I know you said that it's because she wasn't she hadn't done the steps to to receive the communion. That's what that's that's what they were having the that's what he said in mass >> like whenever it happened. >> Yes. After after mass finished he gave that statement and he explained to the congregation what happened >> and did he did he say anything about I heard you kind of talking to him about why she wasn't prepared like she she hasn't done confession and stuff like that. So it's like a normal thing like if you went and you hadn't done confession in the steps to do it then he would tell you the same thing like >> yes. >> Okay. He he he has that that that >> that right to tell you to to deny it >> and say no you're not ready. >> Okay. I just we're trying to figure out >> you know why that like it's just different religion religion denomination denomination. So we're trying to >> No no it's fine. I appreciate you trying to understand our faith before making any judgment. >> Um and that's that's basically it. As one officer continues talking to witnesses, another meets the alleged victim at the police station. >> Hello. >> How are you guys? I'm officer Park. >> What's going on today? >> Um, I just got off by a father. >> By who? >> By a priest. >> Yeah. >> What do you mean? >> You just at church. >> At church. He bit me. >> Really? >> Yes. Yeah. >> We just keep in charge. Yes. >> That is interesting. Um, >> so we want to press charges if we could, please. Okay. How how this how all this Can I take a picture of that real quick? For >> a cookie. Oh, where we went to go get the freaking bread. >> And then he just tapped it on my force mouth. >> In my mouth. No. >> Uhhuh. >> And I'm not going to front. I did try to just grab another cookie because I'm sorry. I don't >> Yeah. Can I take a picture of that real quick? >> Yes. >> The woman shows the officer an apparent bite mark on her right forearm before continuing to describe the alleged altercation. >> Do you need medical treatment? I I think right now I'm okay. Just it's swelling down. >> A fresher picture, too. >> I do have a fresher picture when I have one. >> Okay. I'm just going to cuz I know probably go away. It's okay. >> Yeah. But um >> do you know the the guy's name? So the pastor >> Father Pedell that's Catholic. I'm not I have his information right here. Okay. >> I made sure I got his information before we left. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Did you guys get into an argument before that or anything? >> He wouldn't give me a cookie. And I don't know if it was >> because the way >> you know what it is that I like, >> right? >> Um, excuse me. >> It's okay. >> Um, he said basically I needed to do confession and do all of this. I need to go to mass every Sunday or whatever. And I said, I >> that that doesn't matter. >> I've done everything I needed to do as a kid. >> Mhm. >> I'm just here to accept the bread. >> Right. >> And he wouldn't give it to me. So I said, okay. So I we went stood there because it was like okay no this is this is not going to happen you know I don't I don't like this >> you stood for another >> we stood we stood for another mass >> try to do >> tried to do it again the right way >> and I told him listen sir I said >> you don't >> you don't get to judge me right now >> under God's house >> and then he was like I can't give this to you and all this stuff and I was like why he's like you just told me you you don't go to mass you haven't been in mass in years and this and that >> and I told I I told him I said, "I did everything already." >> He's like, "When did you confess? When did you do this?" I said, "It doesn't matter." I said, "I'm here just to accept the bread." >> Mhm. >> And then he's like, "Okay, because you want it." And then he just like into my mouth. >> And I was like, "No, you're not going to do that." And he's like, "You want the bread, right?" And I was like, "Not this way." So again, I'm not going to front. I went and grabbed I tried to grab another cookie and that's when he grabbed literally grabbed my hand and he just bit me and I tried to just back away but that's it was very indented before and then you know um >> volunteers that were there. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Okay. And you want to press charges? >> Yes. >> Okay. I'm going to have to notify my supervisor. >> Um do you think he was mad because Are you guys a couple? I don't >> but I went first in front of her. He gave it to me. No problem. I said, "Amen." Move to the side. Waiting for her. >> And he gave her a problem. >> Yeah. >> For what? In front of other people. For what? >> Okay. >> If you want to do it separately. Privately. Okay. As an grown person and adult, come to me privately, but not in front of other other people. And for you to assault her in front of million people that are still still in mass. Let's head back to the church and hear from more witnesses while officers wait for the accused priest to return to the scene. >> He had to pick everything up from the floor, all the bread and everything. >> That's sacred for us. So it is like, "No, we cannot allow. We defend that with our wives. That's our our faith." >> But she came early and she looked, you know, they were like mad. >> Yes. >> Because they want to see a father. I said, "Well, he's going to mass the other father in here right now." So she was with the attitude from the beginning, you know, since she was sitting here. Then she went to the mass and this is what happened. Um, the girl walks up, they the petitioner is like handing the communion to people or whatnot and they start talking back and forth about something and he's just trying to explain something to her or whatnot and then it appears that they're not seeing eye to eye and he just goes like this like he did to everyone else before her and she goes like that and then tries to snatch >> whatever it is that he's giving. I guess it's like a piece of bread, right? >> Yeah. >> She tries to snatch it and then they start struggling over it and then the what are they called? the guards that kind of come in and the >> white >> practitioners over there, >> they step in and >> but at no point did I see on the video that he bit her >> and it seems like she's the aggressor using the video. >> She has the video on her phone. >> So you say you're afraid you have to be prepared to get the uh >> the how how did the police know she wasn't prepared? >> He asked her. He was having that conversation with her. He was asking her. >> Does he ask everybody? >> No. No, but he asked her and >> her >> I don't know. >> She was here before. >> She was Yeah. >> at 10:00 m. >> Yeah. >> And he asked her if he she has done the confession >> because he told him it's been a long time. I don't have confession >> and she was upset, right? >> And Yeah. So she >> she was upset and she stayed here. So when he did the other mass, she went and get inside, you know, to try to have the communion and he already have told her that she gonna have the communion and could she have confession. >> And if he regardless >> if he did bite her, the video wouldn't um have picked it up cuz the person who steps in front. >> Yeah. In the video, right? So you can see probably when it happens >> because they they get locked up >> and someone steps into >> she kind of she kind of turns like this hands running by his mouth. He's got both his hands like locked onto hers and you can see where like his head goes down and then she hangs her hand. I'm just taking a picture of the back of your heads. >> Be like what's what's up? She's trying to snatch. >> She's receiving communion and he she doesn't want her and her >> she put she said he was trying to like jam it. >> No, I'll just take myself. >> The video doesn't show that. Just shows him going. >> Yeah. Well, and she goes right now. >> Well, she said I'll take myself >> but still doesn't your son's name that you're there to receive. Did you want >> Fidel? He's on his way to >> So you don't need me. >> It was just a simple get supplies for tonight's meeting. >> All right. You're not going to do that. >> Looking for it. >> Okay. >> I saw another one yesterday. >> Like what is your intent there to bite somebody? >> All right. >> So you should like I can understand if she if he's like no this is not the right way. Right. That's that's one thing. It >> be interesting to interview him and ask if he if he um admits to fighting >> if he says it be interesting. >> With unclear video evidence, police decide to go right to the source as the suspect arrives for questioning. >> Good afternoon, sir. >> How's it going, sir? talk a little bit more private here. I >> mean, this is fine. This is this is >> You want me to open that old office or >> This is >> And there's AC, so we're appreciative. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Um, go ahead and have a seat down. Dr. Willey, he's taking he's taking uh >> Police identify the suspect seen here as 66-year-old Father Fidel Rodriguez, the man accused of biting the woman during the recent church service >> primary in the investigation. I'm just here to to supervise based on the nature of it. >> So, as you may already know, we're we're here because we got a another call that someone came into our station saying um alleging ultimately being uh being bitten, right? Um this is all two sides to every story. So what we usually do as you may imagine connected uh >> I understand I understand you're not doing your job. Don't worry about >> yeah I appreciate your understanding. >> Um so we was watching the video of the of the service right and we kind of got an idea. >> Well the video maybe is not so clear because there another line for communion between the the camera and us and maybe you don't you the probability is not what you can see but what happened. >> Okay. Okay. We have mass at 10:00 in the morning. >> All right. >> And was mass minus and there was first communion for the kids of the school. Father the pastor, father Derek was presiding and was consecrated with him and at the moment of the communion I come both was side by side giving communion to the persons. Okay. She came to me and for experience because I didn't find in fact I am retiring one month. >> Okay. She came and she didn't receive the communion as we have the rule. No or in the head or in the mouth. She want to wrap it in this way is like you are taking a cookie. >> And then she didn't the the Christian need to say an answer. Amen. When you say the body of Christ, amen. >> Okay. >> Okay. She didn't give the answer and then I said because I have the authority to do it. Has you done your first communion? Because what happened with this first communion of the kids they are coming family that they are not practicing faith >> okay >> and they don't know this they can receive this thing everybody's going to receive I can receive too they came said you receive communion yes long time ago uh when was the last time you received communion because I see that she doesn't know what to do uh many years ago I say have you confessed after that and you coming to mass every Sunday to receive communion I don't need to explain you that well if you don't tell me the question because I can I have the authority to ask you I I cannot give you communion. I can give a blessing. I give the blessing. Please move. The other people's gone. And she left. But she was upset. This was the 10:00 mass. >> 10:00. >> 10:00 mass. And at 11, the first communion, the kids came here. We take picture with the kids, the families, whatever. And I go back because I have mass at 12. >> Okay. >> In Spanish. Okay. >> At the moment of communion, she came again >> defying me and in the line in front of me. I said I said you are here again I explain you you know let me explain you before this if somebody suppose that I am have misunderstand what she said or I made say don't give me communion the people the good Christians go to the sac at the end of the said father I'm so sorry maybe you don't understand me and I can receive communion because I used to go to mass I confess but I didn't understand what you said you know whatever they can say and I say okay come here and I go and give the communion I don't have problem this has happened many times That's correct. >> She didn't come. She didn't clarify the situation and then she came to the to receive communion. I explain you and I give her the benefit of the doubt. Did you confess between the mass before and this because she can do it? She could do it. >> No, I don't need to explain you. I don't need to have explanation. You don't have authority to you don't need to judge me. I'm not judging you. I'm asking you only did you confess after the other mass to receive communion now? Because if you confess I can't give you dominion. Oh I don't need to give this place. And then she p push me and grab in I have the ball with the holy host for us is sacred and she grabbed all the hops in the hands because she wants to receive from herself. She is not permitted and she break all the host spread in the in the in the in the before spreading in the in the floor. >> I grab her hand. You cannot do this. This is Rome. this is sacriiggy and said I don't care I am receiving communion and she then said let the the communions out you cannot do that because she do the only the only defense that I found to defend the something from us for all of us is sacred was bit by him I have recognized that I bite her I'm not denying that >> you heard that right father Fidel Rodriguez admits to biting the woman but claims he was defending the sacrament when he said the [music] woman lunged toward with the communion bread after he refused to serve her. Let's continue. >> Then she start pushing me, agreing me and some ministers and grab her and ask her to leave. She don't want to leave and she then she leave making a scandal in all the mass the mass stopped. Everything was a disaster scandal in the mass. >> So let me let me ask you something father. So you felt just >> I recognized that by her as defense. >> Okay. >> And as defending myself and defending the sacrament. So you felt like she um she was kind of uh you know it's a secret sacred place right so she was kind of >> she made a scandal she >> def she she pushed me she agreed me she was very I told you that the attitude was very defiant >> do you have any do you have any prior knowledge of her or history with her before today >> well no the mass at 10:00 >> but before >> but before never I have I don't know who she is >> okay >> I don't know if she's going to another church I don't ask nothing but if she comes to me and say father I am going to holy read in my church. I used to confer her face. I no problem. I come come receive communion. I don't have problem with that. But she didn't uh talk to me. She >> So did uh did anything I mean obviously you don't know her. um anything about her was there was there any conversation about her living in sin or or or the way that she lives her life uh about why that she couldn't she couldn't take communion or was it just the fact that she hasn't done the practices of your >> the practices the rule that we ask for is the >> thing so if she was if she was a lesbian or if she >> I don't know nothing but would that >> she's a lesbian >> maybe >> I don't know >> but I I didn't ask but would that would that uh >> do you know I know you you can be guy and you can be by >> so that so that has nothing if you're if you're gay or >> I'm not judging for appearance you know and I can tell you something there are lesbian here in the community >> and they they're able to receive >> no because they are married with another woman and they know that they cannot receive but it doesn't means that I don't greet every day I kiss them I bless them they have two kids and they love me >> but they're so they're treated the same obviously they're treated with respect and and everything else but they can't >> I don't use nobody >> they can't receive They can't receive communion because of their sexual orientation. >> Excuse me. The sexual orientation is not a limitation to that. You can be uh gay or homosexual or trans whatever you are. I'm not judging for appearances. If they know how to do the things, they can they can I can give communion. I don't know if they say >> amen. >> But what I'm saying is as long as so if they're if they're gay or trans or whatever have you and they've done the correct steps to receive communion, they are okay. They are allowed to receive. >> I they allowed to receive. But she's argumenting that she's lesbian and I rejected her for that. >> So I think that I don't know if she did she document that in her statement. >> Not that she's >> okay. So, just I think that was that was maybe part of her uh statement to you was that maybe she she felt like that was the the reason she couldn't but and you said it and the the nice lady out there said the same thing that as long as you do the correct steps for the religion you can receive communion just like everybody else. >> Okay. >> You know whatever you do with your life in your privacy in first unless that I was there watching there doing the things that I know in the house of nobody can choose what you are doing in your privacy. >> I don't care. And >> how to say that >> you know sometimes when I am preaching I explain the people that we cannot judge the people for appearances. I have people who have a lot of tattoos that looks very you know >> like they are quence or something they are being jail for >> you don't have to >> father Rodriguez denies the allegation that he refused communion over sexual orientation and maintains it was due to the woman's lack of appropriate response during the sacrament. Meanwhile, back with the alleged victim, medics arrived to check out her arm. >> Did it burn a little bit at all? Is anything open? It was just It was just a bro. >> I don't see any anything open, so that's good enough. >> Yeah, >> I'm just >> Yeah, we are still Yeah, >> I'm just throwing off. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Like you said, his daughter goes there to school, so I'm sure that Yeah. I don't know. I'm sorry that happened to you that shouldn't happen to you, especially in a >> establishment like that. >> No, she tried to attack her and like it was like three dudes and I'm like, "No, no, no, no. You guys are not going to get on top of her like that because she did absolutely nothing wrong. It was him that assaulted her in front of everybody. >> So did did anybody else put their hands on you? >> It was like more like it was kind of it was a volunteers but they thought that I started the fight. >> So they were trying to like break everything. >> Yeah. But he was he was latched on to me when they were trying to pull me. >> Okay. >> And then that's when she kind of gave him that that stare. >> I gave him a big ass >> and then he let go me. >> Yeah. It's definitely um it's not common. >> No. >> Do you think he refused to give you the bread because of your like sexual orientation? >> I mean, I didn't see anybody like me over there who dressed the same way as me, female. >> But I just I feel like if I was dressed the same way as her, he would have refused it to me. But since I dress feminine wise, he he gave it to me perfectly fine. No issues whatsoever. >> But I believe his excuse was that I just I wasn't super holy. I guess in his eyes. >> Okay. >> We're Catholic. We were raised Catholic. So I didn't see there was an issue. Gave it to me perfectly fine. I was right in front of her. When she tried, he tried to give her a hard time about it. And she's like like why? He's like, "You haven't. You don't go to a mask and stuff like that. Mind you, I haven't gone since I was like 10. So why is it an issue to wasn't an issue with me but an issue to her?" So then she just kept like, "Okay, but that has nothing to do with it. We're here to join mass." So then he forcefully tried to shove it and like put in her mouth of course up and she's like no don't do that. She tried to get it and then that's when he like went crazy and he grabbed her and all I see is that he bit her. People volunteers are coming and they're tackling her because they think she's the one like being like throwing hands at the at the father and I'm like no no no no you guys are not going to touch her like that for >> the entire congre. >> Yes entire everybody. I just wanted the cookie that's all. Police said they have forwarded the affidavit summary of events to the state attorney's office for review, believing Father Fidel Rodriguez committed simple battery after reviewing the evidence and live stream footage. However, at last check, the state attorney's office has not yet charged him with the crime. >> That's a hard bite. >> Oh, yeah. >> He like grabbed my wrist and he just like like a beaver would with a log.