Arrest warrant issued for Sherwood priest

WJTV
August 19, 2015

http://wjtv.com/2015/08/18/arrest-warrant-issued-for-sherwood-priest/

An arrest warrant was issued Tuesday for a local priest who was placed on administrative leave last month for allegedly lying about hidden cameras found in a church bathroom.

SHERWOOD, Ore. (KOIN) — An arrest warrant was issued Tuesday for a local priest who was placed on administrative leave last month for allegedly lying about hidden cameras found in a church bathroom.

But officials said they believe he may have left the country.

A warrant was issued for the arrest of 34-year-old Father Ysrael Bien for personal invasion of privacy, tampering with physical evidence and initiating a false police report.

In June, police said a teenager discovered a camera disguised as an outlet on a bathroom wall at St. Francis Catholic Church in Sherwood.

He allegedly told Fr. Bien about the camera, who then told the boy he would report it to police.

But the priest never reported the discovery, despite telling the boy’s parents he did.

On Tuesday police tried to locate Fr. Bien at his home. According to another priest at St. Francis Catholic Church, he is believed to have left the country.

If you have any information on Fr. Bien’s whereabouts, please call 503.629.0111 or speak to Detective Debbie Smith at 503.925.7117.