Two women and one man connected to the religious group 1 Mind Ministries in Baltimore have been arrested in New York City on a warrant charging them with failing to appear in court in Baltimore, according to court records and authorities.
Sterling Clifford, a Baltimore police spokesman, would not comment on whether the arrests are connected to a homicide investigation into the remains of an infant found in South Philadelphia. Police are trying to determine whether the remains are those of Javon Thompson, an infant who lived with his mother and other members of the 1 Mind Ministries when it was in Baltimore.
Some of Javon's extended family objected to the religious group, whose members called their leaders king and queen and avoided health care and public education, according to court papers and Colleen Khadan, the missing toddler's aunt.
In October 2006 police went to the group's East Baltimore headquarters to settle a custody dispute. Four people living there shoved and pushed police officers who were checking on the infant, according to court papers. When the residents did not appear at court dates early last year, judges issued warrants for their arrest.
Arrested in New York yesterday were Queen Antoinette, 39; Trevia Williams, 20; and Marcus Cobbs, 21, Clifford said.
Police are still looking for Steven Bynum, 41, the fourth person accused in that incident, Clifford said.
