Michigan church says city officials waging 'targeted' harassment campaign over religious beliefs: lawsuit

A Michigan church that has distributed food in one of the poorest areas in Macomb County for over three decades claims that local officials have engaged in “targeted intimidation efforts” to shut them down over the beliefs of the congregation.

Harvest Time Christian Fellowship and its pastor, Curtiss Ostosh, have filed a lawsuit alleging that the City of Warren is “bombarding” the church with a series of accusations, including zoning and parking violations.

The city has also cited the church for unsanitary conditions and clutter on the property, but the church says that it maintains "State approved and required sanitation and hygienic requirements as noted by multiple State inspections."

The church believes that the code violation charges originated in Mayor Lori Stone’s office, who is listed as a defendant in the lawsuit.

As noted in the lawsuit, HTCF has distributed food “without significant complaints” prior to its recent dealings with Warren.

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