Maryland man arrested after pouring whiskey in holy water at Christmas Eve mass
On Christmas Eve, a series of bizarre incidents unfolded in Maryland as Thomas Campbell Bolling Von Goetz, a 56-year-old man, disrupted two church services. The first incident occurred at Holy Angels Catholic Church, where he alarmed congregants by dropping an onion in the aisle. He then assaulted a concerned citizen with tangerines outside the church. Later that night, during Midnight Mass at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Von Goetz escalated his actions by pouring whiskey into the holy water and threatening to harm parishioners.
As attendees attempted to escort him out, he tried to strike several with a whiskey bottle but was unsuccessful. Parishioners managed to detain him until law enforcement arrived, and he was taken for a medical evaluation. On December 26, he faced multiple charges, including second-degree assault and disturbing the peace. Von Goetz is now held at the St. Mary’s County Detention Center, awaiting a hearing before a District Court Commissioner.