HUDSON — There will be an increased police presence at St. Mary’s/Holy Trinity Church following an interruption at the Mass service Sunday, according to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany.
“Parish leaders have been in contact with the police chief, and Father Barratt, and his ushers have met with police to review the incident and church protocols,” Kathryn Barrans, director of communications for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany said in an email. “Church leaders have been informed that there will be an increased police presence at the church.”
The Hudson Police Department will be adding patrols around the church Saturday and Sunday, and will determine after services this weekend whether or not patrols will continue into next weekend, Hudson Police Chief Mishanda Franklin said in an email.
The 9 a.m. Mass at St. Mary’s/Holy Trinity Church was disrupted April 14 after a man donning a mask and long, black coat and brandishing a glass bottle. The individual was shouting “all hail” at members of the congregation and church officials, according to police.
The suspect, Cameron A. Jamieson, 47, of Hillsdale, was apprehended by members of the congregation before police arrived, and handed over to the custody of Hudson police when they responded at 9:38 a.m.
The incident occurred toward the end of the Eucharistic prayer, said the Rev. Anthony Barratt, priest at St. Mary’s/Holy Trinity Church in Hudson in a video posted on the church’s Facebook page.
“Of course, it was alarming for those present, and sadly as I’m sure you also know various incidents like this do occur from time to time in all sorts of places, including churches,” he said in the video. “It’s important to note that we do have a protocol in place for such events and emergencies, and our ushers have had training in what to do as was indeed evidenced in how they acted on Sunday.”
Some of the ushers at the church are also active or retired law enforcement, and others have a medical background, Barratt said in the video.
“Many thanks for those who helped deal with the incident on Sunday in a calm, sensitive, caring way,” he said.
Jamieson, 47, was arrested Monday, April 15, and charged with one count of making a terroristic threat, a class D felony.
He was transported to Columbia Memorial Health for a mental health evaluation, and following his discharge from the hospital was handed over to the custody of Hudson Police Department and held on $3,000 bail.
However, on April 16, Jamieson was released without bail after a Columbia County judge found his charge ineligible for bail under the state 2019 bail reform law.
Mass continued following the incident, Barrans said.
“Father Barratt did first ask all to pause and pray first for those present and for the person who disrupted the Mass, but after that prayerful pause, Mass did continue,” she said.
There have been no similar incidents at St. Mary’s/Holy Trinity Church, or other parishes in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, Barrans said.
The diocese is praying for those involved in the incident to continue moving forward in a compassionate, fair, and just manner, Barrans added.
“Our prayers continue for all present and for the person who is now facing charges, that any healing needed is realized,” she said.