Incident Involving Detroit Priest and Suspect

The Institute of Christ the Sovereign Priest, a Roman Catholic congregation, is associated with various acts of faith and community service.

Bishop Jean-Baptiste Comins, a chaplain of the institute and pastor at historic St. Joseph Cathedral in Detroit, recently found himself in a challenging situation. On a Monday, he confronted an 18-year-old individual suspected of stealing a car and crashing it into another vehicle near the church.

Comins, who has described himself as a “steady and harmonious” monk, mentioned, “Unfortunately, I had to give him a few punches.”

This young priest, shaped by his upbringing in a military family, was alerted by the sound of screeching tires followed by a loud crash while outside in the church parking lot. He later recounted the incident, noting how the police had previously tried to stop a vehicle they believed was stolen.

Without hesitation, Comins, dressed in his priestly cassock, rushed toward the scene and spotted a bloodied man fleeing with one shoe. Amid cries for help to stop the suspect, he intervened swiftly.

With assistance from parishioners, Comins was able to restrain the young man until law enforcement arrived.

“I grabbed him and pushed him down,” Comins stated, displaying several scrapes on his knuckles and bandaged fingers. The priest described the suspect as quite resistant, emphasizing, “He was definitely trying to escape. Unfortunately, I had to punch him a few times. It wasn’t a big deal, but I didn’t know if he had a gun or a weapon.”

Once the police took over, Comins returned to the scene of the accident to check on the woman in the vehicle that was struck. Initially, she was “not very responsive,” though police confirmed her injuries were not life-threatening.

After resolving the situation outside the church, Comins continued his day—praying and sharing a meal with community members as he typically does. “One more day in D!” he joked, reflecting on the incident with a lighthearted attitude.

A suspect was arrested in connection with the car theft, and three others were taken into custody as well. As of now, Detroit police have not responded to requests for comments regarding the incident.

An advocacy group referred to Comins as “legendary,” highlighting the notable role he played during the whole scenario.