BALTIMORE — A Florida pastor is in custody for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy he met online.
Before being arrested on July 29 at Orlando airport, police learned that Timothy Chaneyfield had been in Baltimore for a funeral.
During an August 4 press conference announcing Chaneyfield's arrest Polk County, Florida Sheriff Grady Judd blasted Maryland law enforcement accusing them of offering no help in capturing him.
Florida pastor wanted for child sex abuse made Baltimore funeral before arrest
"We were so worried about this, we actually tried to catch him while he was in Baltimore because we didn't even want him wandering the streets of Baltimore, what all is he up to there...of course when we were able to find that he should have been in the airport, the Baltimore Police Department gave us zero assistance," said Judd. " But I guess we shouldn't expect anymore from that. the place is a train wreck."
Judd's office later clarified they contacted MDTA police, who has general jurisdiction of law enforcement operations at the airport.
MDTA provided the following response to WMAR-2 News:
"The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Police is disappointed by the inaccurate statements made by the Polk County Sheriff regarding MDTA Police involvement in an attempt to apprehend child sex abuse suspect, Timothy Chaneyfield. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office contacted the MDTA Police BWI Airport Detachment during the early morning hours of July 29, requesting assistance locating Chaneyfield on a flight that was scheduled to depart from the airport. After receiving the call, MDTA Police Officers immediately responded to the gate in an attempt to locate the suspect and learned that the flight had been cancelled and deboarded an hour before the officers’ arrival. MDTA Police Officers shared this information with detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. Any statement that the MDTA Police provided zero assistance is categorically false. The MDTA Police remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners in any state to assist in the apprehension of violent wanted suspects."
Because Judd specifically mentioned Baltimore Police in his remarks, however, the department issued this statement:
"The Baltimore Police Department is disappointed by the inaccurate statements made by the Polk County Sheriff regarding BPD’s involvement in apprehending their child sex abuse suspect, Timothy Chaneyfield. To be clear, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office never contacted BPD for assistance in locating Chaneyfield, so any claim that BPD failed to help is categorically false. If another law enforcement agency was contacted, the sheriff should make sure he has his facts straight before publicly criticizing another department, its officers, and our city. BPD remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to assist in apprehending violent suspects, as well as locating any potential victims in Baltimore."
Florida Sheriff calls Baltimore 'Train Wreck' after pastor wanted for child sex abuse was able to avoid initial capture
Meanwhile, Florida detectives have since learned that Chaneyfield is HIV positive, yet failed to notify the child and others he reportedly had unprotected sex with.
Investigators now suspect there could be more victims who've yet to come forward.
Chaneyfield is currently being held in Florida on $350,000 bond.
Anyone knowing of inappropriate contact with Chaneyfield can call the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200.
Judd said Chaneyfield is the pastor at St. James United American Free Will Baptist Church in Winter Haven, Florida, while also serving as chaplain for Compassionate Care Hospice, which lists eight locations throughout Maryland.
