A church pastor and his visitor found themselves in a dangerous situation at the Croydon Park Community Church, Adelaide, when they were threatened with a knife. The incident occurred around 8pm as Pastor Ryan Pickard and his guests were finishing up for the evening. When one of the guests headed to the outdoor bathroom, a 51-year-old man from Croydon Park allegedly confronted him with a knife.
In a swift response, Pastor Pickard and another guest intervened, managing to subdue the man and execute a citizen’s arrest until the police arrived. According to Pickard, he observed the assailant attempting to steal items belonging to the church before fleeing when confronted. One of the guests informed him of the knife threat, prompting the pastor’s decisive action.
Yvette Pickard, the pastor’s wife, witnessed the event unfold. She described how their friend managed to defend himself during the knife attack, leading to the successful apprehension of the assailant. Eyewitness Gayath Rivijayam added to the account, recalling the chaotic scene where the man was shouting threatening phrases while trying to escape.
The suspect was arrested on-site and charged with aggravated assault following the incident, which left witnesses shaken yet relieved that the situation was managed without serious injury.