Man accused of stealing bells from St. Innocent Orthodox Church in court

CLEVELAND - The man who police said stole bells worth thousands of dollars from an Olmsted Township church was in court Wednesday morning.

Brian Diamond received initial charges of theft, aggravated theft and escape.

His pre-trial has been set for Sept. 28 at 9 a.m. in Judge Jose Villanueva's courtroom.

Diamond is yet to make bond, which has been continued at $10,000 cash.

The five bells, worth $6,000 and weighing 300 lbs., were stolen from St. Innocent Orthodox Church on Usher Road on a Sunday in late August.

According to Father Michael Butler, the bells were embedded in a wooded frame in the front lawn of the church. The frame was sawed in half, releasing the brass bells which were imported from Russia. The bells were donated by a parishioner whose husband passed away.

According to authorities, Diamond needed to be treated at a local hospital when police originally arrested him.

While in the hospital room, Diamond overtook officers and escaped from custody, prompting an extensive search.

SWAT team members, Middleburg Heights police, Berea police, Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers and hospital security began looking for Diamond.

Diamond was found in a field next to the hospital. Originally, a scrap yard worker called police reporting a man just tried to sell brass bells to them.