EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a developing story. This article has been updated since publication.
Dallas police allegedly arrested street preachers affiliated with the ministry “Testimonies of God” on December 18 outside American Airlines Center while the Mavericks played the Pistons. According to video of the incident, both men were placed in handcuffs. An officer later stated on camera that the arrest was for “interference with public duties.”
A video of the incident went viral, showing officers cuffing two preachers and sitting them down outside the arena. Libs of TikTok posted the video on X December 23, racking up hundreds of thousands of views.
Dallas Police officers arrested two Christian street preachers while they were speaking on public property because they didn’t “back off.”
Christians are being arrested in Dallas for exercising their 1st Amendmentpic.twitter.com/Xs45vuIEAq
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 23, 2025
Dallas police Senior Public Information Officer Corbin Rubinson told The Dallas Express the department usually does not comment on social media posts, but made an exception here for transparency and to address questions.“Neither individual was arrested or formally taken into custody,” Rubinson said.
“You only, what, told me twice?” a preacher asked at the opening of the video. An officer then grabbed his arm.
The Incident
“So what’s the charge, officer?” asked the man recording the video.
The officer replied it was “interference with public duties.”
“So this officer just arrested my fellow brother because he’s on public property and asking questions,” the man recording the video said.
The officer then brought the preacher to a group of other officers who cuffed him and sat him down beside another preacher.
“Why am I being arrested, officer?” the preacher asked.
“Because I told you to back off twice, and you didn’t do it,” the officer replied.
The ministry later posted video of the incident on Instagram, saying the preachers were sharing the gospel as fans arrived at the arena.
“We were arrested for preaching Christ on the public sidewalk, yet the Word of God was not hindered. Many souls heard,” the ministry wrote. “Many great Gospel conversations had, Bibles were given, and Christ was exalted.”
The arrest occurred outside American Airlines Center. In a social media post, the ministry said the incident happened “while the game was getting started and fans flooded to the arena.”
“This does not meet our callback criteria. Please follow up with us again tomorrow,” a Dallas police media representative told The Dallas Express at 9:15 p.m. December 23.
Dallas police have not released arrest records or confirmed whether the men were formally booked or charged, nor have they explained what occurred prior to the arrest.
“This does not meet our callback criteria. Please follow up with us again tomorrow,” a Dallas police media representative told The Dallas Express at 9:15 p.m. December 23.
The next morning, Rubinson followed up with The Dallas Express to offer a statement from the department.
Around 7:20 p.m. on December 18, officers responded to a “disturbance on private property” near 2600 Victory Ave., according to Rubinson. Off-duty officers hired by a third party saw a group of people, including one on a large planter using a loudspeaker “in violation of the City’s noise ordinance.”
“A nearby resident had asked the group to lower the volume, and officers also requested that the volume be reduced,” Rubinson said. “During the interaction, several individuals attempted to antagonize the officers.”
Officers “temporarily detained” the preachers for officer safety, and issued them criminal trespass warnings from a private business, according to Rubinson.
“Both individuals could have been arrested, one for violating the noise ordinance and the other for Interference with Public Duties, but officers ultimately exercised discretion and issued a citation to the individual using the loudspeaker,” Rubinson said.
He also said the interaction took place on private property, not a public sidewalk. He cited city code, and said officers tried to fix the violation before arrest or citation.
“The Dallas Police Department remains committed to protecting the First Amendment rights of all individuals and groups while also enforcing applicable city ordinances and state and federal laws,” Rubinson said. “Property owners also retain the right to request that individuals leave their property if they are causing a disturbance.”
The incident has fueled criticism online, with some arguing that police resources are being misdirected as Dallas continues to struggle with violent crime in and around downtown.
My office will be demanding answers from @DallasPD.
The 1st amendment must not be violated in Texas.
Cc: @GregAbbott_TX @DanPatrick @HarmeetKDhillon https://t.co/G9pCjY0Mzi
— Brian Harrison (@brianeharrison) December 24, 2025
