FAIRHOPE, Alabama—A Daphne man was arrested yesterday after entering a Fairhope church in military fatigues and armed with an assault rifle, a pistol, ammunition for both weapons and morphine pills in his possession.

At 10 a.m. July 1, the Fairhope Police Department received a phone call from a church in the 800 block of North Greeno Road, according to a news release this afternoon.  A member of the congregation reported that a male had entered the church armed with an assault rifle and was wearing a backpack and military fatigues. The ensuing investigation revealed the suspect had been honorably discharged from the military.

Officers responded and located the subject, Robin Lee Hernandez, age 28, of Daphne, who was seated inside the church.  The officers immediately disarmed him and took him into custody. 

Two weapons were removed from his person:  a Bravo Company Manufacturing .223 caliber semi-automatic M-4 rifle equipped with tactical sights and accessories and a Glock 9 millimeter pistol.   

Hernandez also had six magazines for the rifle with 150 rounds of ammunition, three magazines for the pistol with 30 rounds of ammunition, a first aid kit, and a walkie-talkie radio equipped with an earpiece.  His spouse, who was also present, had an identical radio in her possession.  The officers also recovered six morphine pills from his possession.

After the arrest, Fairhope officers seized several additional firearms from his residence.

The investigation is ongoing and the Fairhope police are working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Baldwin County District Attorney’s Office.  Hernandez is currently in the Fairhope Municipal Jail charged with possession of a controlled substance, pending transfer to the Baldwin County Corrections Center.  Additional federal and state firearm violations are being considered.

His spouse has not been charged.

“Our community is very fortunate in that this incident had the potential for a less than desirable outcome, especially considering the fact that several church members had concerns about this individual,” Chief Bill Press said in a statement.