Pastor Arrested In Shooting Of Suspected Thief

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A pastor who once was a New Orleans police officer has been arrested for allegedly shooting a man suspected of stealing copper.

Police said 62-year-old William Littleton was arrested Thursday. He was booked with one count of aggravated battery in connection with the shooting of 50-year-old Rodney Mitchell.

Interim police chief Michael Harrison said Littleton told investigators that on Wednesday he caught two men dismantling and stripping air conditioner units between Littleton's church and his adjacent snowball stand in the Algiers neighborhood.

Harrison said Littleton pointed a gun, ordered the men to stop, and fired after the men fled in a pickup truck.

Mitchell was struck in the head and was last reported in serious condition; 34-year-old Joseph Cross was arrested and booked with theft.