Church's music leads to lawsuits

It says township violated its rights; neighbor says volume too high
BY JOHN WISELY • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • March 30, 2008

To a church neighbor and local police, it's a matter of peace on Earth.

The church, on Airport Road south of Williams Lake Road, is suing the township, accusing officials of using police to raid the church to quiet its worship in violation of the First Amendment right to freely exercise religion.

"Uniformed Waterford police officers raided ... without a search warrant, arrest warrant or on any other legal authority, detained Pastor Mark Kerr, interrogated him and seized his driver's license," according to the lawsuit filed earlier this month in federal court in Detroit. The actions of police have had a chilling effect on worship, the suit claims. the rest