COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Coldwater Department of Public Safety released a statement on Friday following the arrest of Father Brian Stanley in Allegan County. The 57-year-old Stanley was at one time the pastor of Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Coldwater and Our Lady of Fatima in Union City.
Coldwater Police say that on February 6, 2017, a representative of the Kalamazoo Diocese of the Catholic Church contacted them requesting an investigation into possible criminal conduct alleged to have been perpetrated by Stanley.
The Coldwater Police Department opened an investigation into the alleged conduct that was identified by the diocese to have occurred between 2002 and 2004. According to the press release, the department investigation determined that no further action could be taken at that time because the alleged victim did not wish to participate in the investigation.
Stanley was formally charged on Thursday for unlawful imprisonment. The charge was filed by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office after they seized documents from Catholic Diocese offices from around the state last fall.
In a statement, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Stanley wrapped a teenage boy up in plastic wrap in the fall of 2013, taped his mouth and eyes closed, and left him in a room for over an hour at St. Margaret’s Church in Otsego. At the time the boy’s parents did not suspect any wrongdoing because the act was part of an agreed punishment with the boy who was using marijuana and had poor grades. Stanley is scheduled to be back in court next Thursday.
Coldwater Police say they take all reports of criminal activity seriously. If anyone has additional information regarding this matter or if anyone would like to report possible physical or sexual abuse, call Coldwater Police at (517) 278-4525.
