Satanic Grotto leader, three others arrested following Black Mass at Kansas Statehouse
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - The leader of a Satanic group that sponsored a Black Mass was arrested along with three other people following an incident late Friday morning inside the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka, authorities said.
Around 11:28 a.m. Friday, following an outdoor ceremony, Satanic Grotto founder Michael Stewart made his way to the security checkpoint at the visitors entrance on the north side of the Statehouse. He earlier said he was planning to enter the building as a private citizen but not to perform any activities associated with the event.
Law enforcement greeted Stewart at the Statehouse entrance, telling him he was welcome inside the building, but he could not perform any demonstrations.
Individuals representing Christian groups also entered the Statehouse about the same time as Stewart, and later could be heard reciting the Hail Mary prayer.
After he was inside the Stathouse, Stewart made his way to the rotunda, where he held his arms skyward and made a dedication to Satan.
One woman confronted him, saying he was not allowed to do that, while a man approached holding a medallion and praying.
A third person -- identified by Capitol Police as Marcus Schroeder -- then approached Stewart. An altercation occurred between Schroeder and Stewart before Capitol Police officers took both of them into custody, officials said.
Stewart, 42, was booked into the Shawnee County Jail in connection with unlawful assembly and disorderly conduct. He was released after posting a $1,000 bond, officials said.
Schroeder, 21, also was booked into the Shawnee County Jail in connection with disorderly conduct. He was released after posting a $1,000 bond, officials said.
Two other people -- identified as Jocelyn Frazee, 32, and Sean Anderson, 50 -- also were taken into custody and were booked into the Shawnee County Jail in connection with unlawful assembly. Capitol Police officials said Frazee and Anderson had entered the Statehouse with Stewart to demonstrate. Both were released from jail after posting $1,000 bond, officials said.
According to Capitol Police officials, the cases will be submitted to the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office for review.
Shortly after the incident inside the Statehosue rotunda late Friday morning, a woman identifying herself as Stewart’s wife said he did nothing wrong. She said he merely was conducting the ritual as it was originally permitted to take place inside the Statehouse.
She also accused authorities of hypocrisy for not taking similar action against people who were continuing to recite Christian prayers in the rotunda as her husband was being detained.
Before and during the event, a large crowd with opposing views had gathered outside the Statehouse as the Black Mass was scheduled to take place starting around 11 a.m.
The Black Mass, which had been planned for several weeks, was being organized by of the Satanic Grotto. It originally had been planned to take place inside the Statehouse but officials later required it to be restricted to outside the building.
The event had garnered protests from Christian organizations.
On Friday morning, demonstrators on both sides of the issue were yelling at each other as a large police presence was on hand outside the Statehouse, according to a 13 NEWS reporter on the scene.
An altercation took place around 11 a.m. Friday, when someone from the crowd appeared to have attempted to interrupt the event, which took place on the north side of the Statehouse.
Warning video may contain some strong language.
A 13 NEWS reporter on the scene said about 20 people were on hand in of the Black Mass.
Meanwhile, an estimated 300 to 400 people who were protesting the event also had gathered at the Statehouse.
Those protesting the Black Mass were largely kept separate from those who were on hand ing the event.
A 13 NEWS reporter who was at the scene said many of the Christians on hand gathered on the south side of the Statehouse, where they heard from several speakers.
A large number of law enforcement officers -- including from the Capitol Police and the Kansas Highway Patrol -- were on hand to provide security at the event.
13 NEWS has a team of reporters at the event.
Stay with 13 NEWS and wibw.com for more information as it becomes available.
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