Georgia man baptizes himself during Florida church burglary, sheriffs say

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Georgia burglar baptizes self

A man baptizes himself during a burglary in Georgia. (Credit: Bay County Sheriff's Office)

A Georgia man was arrested after breaking into a Florida church on Friday, an act that caused $8,000 worth of damages and gave him the opportunity to baptize himself.

According to the Bay County Sheriff's Office, the suspect — identified in county booking documents as Derik Porter — used a cinder block to shatter a window of the Emerald Beach Church of God in Panama City Beach to gain unauthorized entry.

A female employee was inside the church and fled for her safety when Porter smashed the window. Porter proceeded to steal the church's treasury bag and some electronic equipment, including a television and a computer.

Methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia were also found on Porter, the sheriff's office said.

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(Bay County Sheriffs Office)

Police said Porter struggled to recollect several moments while inside the church, but did remember the act of self-baptism in the church's font.

According to Porter, there was a sensation of "something" keeping his head submerged beneath the water while he was in the pool. It's unclear if Porter was under the influence during the break-in.

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(Bay County Sheriff's Office)

Florida officials charged Porter — who was out on bond in Georgia — with burglary of an occupied structure, criminal mischief, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Porter wasn't the only one who took a dip in the church font. Bodycam footage shows sheriffs conducting an internal investigation of the church premises after Porter's apprehension, and during the search, one of the police K-9s leaped into the baptismal font "to beat the heat and cool off," according to sheriffs.

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(Bay County Sheriff's Office)

The audio captures the sound of sheriffs laughing over the impromptu splash.

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Porter is currently being held at the Bay County Jail on a $19,500 bail.