Men drive stolen church van to jail

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STOCKTON, Calif., May 24 (UPI) -- Two men in a hurry to visit a California jail found themselves behind bars when they allegedly hijacked a church van to get to there quicker, police said.

Dave Kendall, who works for the Church of Christ Within in Stockton as a driver for a van designated to give rides to people who can't afford other transportation, said he agreed to give Cortez Craig, 55, and Cornell Moses, 31, a ride to the San Joaquin County Jail to visit an inmate Tuesday and the men got angry when the stops he had lined up first took too much time, KTXL-TV, Sacramento, Calif., reported Thursday.

"And I wouldn't move fast enough for them, because I had other things to do. And they were impatient so they decided to assault me and take the keys by force," Kendall said.

"They basically punched me in the head a few times, kicked me a few times, grabbed the keys and ran," Kendall said.

Police said the men took the van to the jail as they had planned, but were quickly arrested on felony carjacking charges.

"These criminals were not very smart on Tuesday," Detective Joe Silva said.

Kendall said the incident will not stop him from fulfilling his duties.

"I was homeless for the better part of thirty years," Kendall said. "And if people are willing to help me, then I am willing to help people."