Christians arrested for public singing in Moscow, Idaho

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Candidate Rench arrested at downtown Moscow event
Five cited for alleged face mask order violations at “psalm sing” hosted by Christ Church outside Moscow City Hall; three of the five arrested

A “psalm sing” attended by more than 150 people Wednesday in the Moscow City Hall parking lot led to three arrests, including that of Latah County commission candidate Gabriel Rench.

Rench, a Moscow Republican running against incumbent Moscow Democrat Tom Lamar in November’s election, was one of five people cited by Moscow police for suspicion of being in violation of Moscow's mask/social distancing order, according to Moscow Police Chief James Fry.

Of the five cited, two also were arrested for suspicion of resisting or obstructing an officer. The fifth, Rench, was arrested but not charged with allegedly refusing to identify himself to police, according to Fry.

Fry said the officer who arrested Rench knew who he was but that Rench refused to provide his identification after the officer requested it.

Fry said none of the five cited were wearing masks or social distancing.

The five mask order citations were the first given by Moscow police, Fry said. The mask order took effect in early July and states face coverings must be worn in indoor and outdoor public settings where 6-foot social distancing cannot be maintained with nonhousehold members.

Those who violate the order are subject to a misdemeanor, which carries a maximum punishment of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Fry said officers preach community policing, “but at some point in time you have to enforce.”

He said the department has been “very lenient” on enforcing the order and officers have tried to work with every group to prevent incidents like Wednesday's from happening.

The event was promoted on Christ Church's Facebook page as a “flash psalm sing.” It started at 4:45 p.m. and most people had left within 30 minutes of it starting.

Ben Zornes, a Christ Church pastor and organizer of the event, said the church hosts psalm, or hymn, events about once a month at places like Friendship Square, East City Park or at a house. He said Wednesday's psalm sing was also a fitting way to show that residents want a return to normalcy in the face of COVID-19.

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