Dallas police arrest two Christian street preachers outside American Airlines Center during a Dallas Mavericks game | Images via testimonies.of.god / Instagram
Dallas police arrested street preachers affiliated with the ministry “Testimonies of God” on December 18 outside American Airlines Center while the Mavericks played the Pistons. According to video of the incident, both men were placed in handcuffs. An officer later stated on camera that the arrest was for “interference with public duties.”
A video of the incident went viral, showing officers cuffing two preachers and sitting them down outside the arena. Libs of TikTok posted the video on X December 23, racking up hundreds of thousands of views.
Dallas Police officers arrested two Christian street preachers while they were speaking on public property because they didn’t “back off.”
Christians are being arrested in Dallas for exercising their 1st Amendmentpic.twitter.com/Xs45vuIEAq
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 23, 2025
“You only, what, told me twice?” a preacher asked at the opening of the video. An officer then grabbed his arm.
“So what’s the charge, officer?” asked the man recording the video.
The officer replied it was “interference with public duties.”
“So this officer just arrested my fellow brother because he’s on public property and asking questions,” the man recording the video said.
The officer then brought the preacher to a group of other officers who cuffed him and sat him down beside another preacher.
“Why am I being arrested, officer?” the preacher asked.
“Because I told you to back off twice, and you didn’t do it,” the officer replied.
The ministry later posted video of the incident on Instagram, saying the preachers were sharing the gospel as fans arrived at the arena.
“We were arrested for preaching Christ on the public sidewalk, yet the Word of God was not hindered. Many souls heard,” the ministry wrote. “Many great Gospel conversations had, Bibles were given, and Christ was exalted.”
The arrest occurred outside American Airlines Center. In a social media post, the ministry said the incident happened “while the game was getting started and fans flooded to the arena.” Dallas police have not released arrest records or confirmed whether the men were formally booked or charged, nor have they explained what occurred prior to the arrest.
“This does not meet our callback criteria. Please follow up with us again tomorrow,” a Dallas police media representative told The Dallas Express at 9:15 p.m. December 23.
The incident has fueled criticism online, with some arguing that police resources are being misdirected as Dallas continues to struggle with violent crime in and around downtown.