Police in Vermont say a pastor armed with a handgun attempted to stop a burglar fleeing from his church.

Pastor Richard Menard of the New Beginnings Christian Church in St. Johnsbury told police there had been multiple burglaries at his church recently. The Caledonian-Record reports he heard his building alarm go off early June 28 and confronted a fleeing burglar with a handgun.

Menard says he told the man to freeze after pulling out his handgun. Police say the burglar didn't freeze and ran off into the woods.

Police say Justin Kirby, 32, of Lyndon, was arrested. He faces a number of charges, including felony burglary and petit larceny. It wasn't immediately known if he had a lawyer; a number couldn't be found for him.

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