In his quest to pry beer out of a locked pantry, a guest at Abiquiú’s Christ in the Desert Monastery threatened a monk with a knife, leading to a tussle in which the monk’s hand was cut, according to court documents.
George Lawrence, 50, allegedly entered a monastery kitchen shortly before 6 p.m. June 20 and tried to use a large knife to open a locked pantry door, according to court documents.
Documents tell the following story:
Father Mateo Alanis was working in the kitchen at the time and asked Lawrence what he was doing, to which Lawrence replied he was getting beer from the pantry.
“Father Mateo told George he was not going to take the beer and George went crazy putting the large knife to Father Mateo’s chest,” State Police officer Chris Rodriguez wrote in his report.
Alanis wrestled the knife away from Lawrence, cutting his finger in the process, then threw the knife and pushed Lawrence away. Lawrence then allegedly punched Alanis in the mouth. Another monk, Alberto Pilacra, also witnessed the confrontation.
By the time police arrived, the scene had calmed down. Lawrence was asleep in his room, and Alanis led the officer to him. Once awoken, Lawrence admitted he had done something stupid by trying to get “his beer” from the pantry. Alanis had jumped on his back to try to stop him and he got upset, Lawrence told police.
Seeing bullets in Lawrence’s room, police questioned where his guns were. Lawrence showed the officers where he had hidden his guns in a tree about 100 feet from his room.
Lawrence was charged in Rio Arriba County Magistrate Court with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery and criminal damage to property. He was being held at Rio Arriba County Jail on $8,000 bond.
Meanwhile, the Monastery is asking for a permit to locate a brewery on 1.5 acres in the Canyon de Chama. The Rio Arriba County Planning and Zoning Committee will hold a public hearing on the request July 8 at 1:30 p.m., and the County Commission will discuss the matter July 30.