Preliminary hearing set in youth evangelist case

Published 12:51 pm Friday, May 25, 2012

By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

A preliminary hearing for youth evangelist Matt Pitt, founder of Birmingham-based The Basement, is set for June 13 at 8:30 a.m.

Shelby County Circuit Court Supervisor Jill Smitherman said Circuit Court Judge Dan Reeves will preside over the hearing, which will be at the Shelby County Courthouse.

Pitt, 28, was arrested off Interstate 65 about midnight May 11 in Calera for impersonating a peace officer.

Pitt

In earlier reports, Calera Police Chief Sean Lemley said the Calera Police Department received a complaint about an unmarked Tahoe activating emergency flashing blue lights to force traffic to allow the vehicle through.

When the police pulled the Tahoe over, officers asked Pitt if he was a police officer, and he said he was a deputy with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, according to Lemley. After verifying that Pitt was not a law enforcement officer, Calera police arrested him and transported him to the Shelby County Jail.

Pitt was charged with impersonating a peace officer, a felony. Pitt posted a $10,000 bond and was released May 12.