City Now Suing Pastor Over Church’s Camp for the Homeless
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Wiley S. Drake, the controversial pastor of the First Southern Church of Buena Park, received notice Tuesday that the city has filed a civil suit demanding that he cease allowing the homeless to camp on church grounds.
The 60-page document, which Drake characterized as “the devil’s summons,” notifies the church that a hearing is set for June 11.
The city previously filed criminal charges against the church. Drake and city prosecutors are in the midst of mediating that dispute. They have another mediation session set for next Wednesday, and a court date in that suit is set for June 2.
Drake said he has no intention of evicting the 30 homeless people from his property and was offering shelter to new arrivals even after the summons arrived.
The new civil suit asks the court to order him to stop housing the homeless and seeks reimbursement for the legal fees and court costs the city has incurred.
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