ST. LOUIS – A south St. Louis church has been condemned, just days after police found a woman who claims she’d been kidnapped and later assaulted inside the building.

A sign has been posted on the door of the Mount of Olives Ministry, telling passersby that the building is condemned.

The St. Louis Building Division condemned the church on February 26 in coordination with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department due to illegal occupancy, according to Connor Kerrigan, a communications specialist for the city.

“Well, you know, if they were members of the church or had anything to do with that church and they did anything like that, then they deserve to be condemned no matter who they are,” neighbor Walter Greiner said.

St. Louis police were called to the Patch neighborhood on Saturday, February 24, around 1:30 a.m., after a woman was found near the church. She was bleeding from her head and bound by ropes.

The woman led police to the 8300 block of Minnesota Avenue, where she was confined to a room against her will.

She told the police she was only given water while in the room. Police said they found a bottle of water and a bucket with feces and urine.

Upon entry into the location, police said she identified three men responsible for her confinement and beating. Police arrested the men, aged 25, 28, and 32. They were each charged with second-degree kidnapping and third-degree assault.

The church caters to African refugees who have settled in St. Louis.

Greiner, who said his family has lived in the neighborhood for 100 years, has seen changes throughout his lifetime and said the neighborhood has been dangerous but seems to be turning around.

“When you do things like that, it’s just plain wrong,” Greiner said. “It’s ignorant. So, you know, there isn’t much of a church that does that now. Churches don’t do things like that. Churches help people.”