The church, usually adorned in rainbows and messages supporting its progressive activism, was used to stage more than a dozen sheriff’s vehicles on June 17. Oliver posted a video of himself confronting deputies, who assured him their presence was related to an investigation, but not ICE raids. They left at Oliver’s request.
But even in a short time, Oliver claims damage was done to his church community.
“Many people part of my church do not feel safe around 20 police officers with giant vans,” Oliver told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “People on the margins are often victims of over policing and bad policing. Just their presence did harm…kids had to walk through all that.”
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Allendale posted its letter the sheriff’s office, which included an invoice for $10,000 for “unauthorized use of private church parking lot” and citing “disruption to community access operations, and congregational use of property.”
Oliver said he doesn’t expect the office to pay the invoice, but if money does come in, Allendale will give it to an organization that provides legal support to immigrants.
The pastor suspects the staging may have to do with his recent protests of the sheriff’s office working with ICE. The day before the staging, he was part of a protest outside Pinellas County Jail.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment on Allendale’s letter and Oliver’s allegations.
“The bottom line is…they’re not to stage at my church ever again, and if they do we will trespass them,” Oliver said.
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This article appears in Jun 26 – Jul 2, 2025.