Elgin man charged for preaching too loudly

An Elgin man arrested Thursday night for preaching the word of God too loudly was back on the street Friday, reminding anyone within the sound of his voice that Jesus loves them and the devil does not.

Joseph Tomasino, 41, of the 300 block of East Chicago Street, on Thursday was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct after he defied a police order to spread the gospel more quietly.

Tomasino says has been preaching to Elgin residents on the street for about a month now at various intersections.

On Friday evening, he was alternately speaking and yelling English and Spanish religious phrases at pedestrians and vehicles on Route 31 and National Street.

Although he targets his messages to the needy and to those who need Christ in their lives, Tomasino says he is not trying to save Elgin.

"I'm just trying to share the love of Jesus," he said. "Only Jesus can save Elgin."

According to police reports:

Tomasino on Thursday was standing at the northwest corner of National Street and South Grove Avenue at 8:35 p.m. Thursday, waving a Bible and shouting religious messages to pedestrians and passing motorists.

An officer on patrol spotted Tomasino, noticed pedestrians trying to avoid him and saw that some vehicles slowed down at the sight of the preacher, which created traffic problems.

Tomasino initially refused to surrender his identification to the officer, telling him that God already knows who he is.

The officer said he also needed to know who Tomasino is, but Tomasino walked away and shouted religious messages at a pair of pedestrians.

Tomasino finally showed his identification and told the officer he was screaming because he's "spreading the word of God to Elgin."

The officer told Tomasino to do so in a less disturbing manner because he was alarming people.

But Tomasino said he wouldn't stop and resumed yelling at people, again causing cars to slow and scaring pedestrians.

In the end, Tomasino said an arrest would be the only way police could silence him.

And that's exactly what the officer did, after warning Tomasino several more times to tone it down, reports said.

Tomasino was released pending a court appearance at 9 a.m. Sept. 4 in Elgin.

Even so, Tomasino says nothing - not even his recent arrest - will stop him from doing what he says is God's will in Elgin.

"It can't," he said. "It didn't deter Jesus from giving his life."