PHILADELPHIA -
It's an old church, and 100 years of wind and rain have taken a toll. So when a north Philadelphia man showed up saying he could repair the roof, church officials thought their prayers had been answered.
But a year later, the roof still leaks and the pastor says he needs a miracle.
"Every time it rains, I'm disgusted because I know what it's doing to my building."
Dr. Linwood Riley has been pastor of the New Redeem Apostolic Church on Germantown Ave. for more than 40 years. Riley says last summer, Michael Watts of north Philadelphia approached the church offering to repair the roof. He said the job would cost $22,000. The church paid Watts $9,000 to get started. The church also spent $5,000 for roofing material. The money came from an earlier insurance settlement.
In mid-August, Watts hired some workers and began the repairs. But after two weeks, Dr. Riley says the roofer packed up his tools and left, leaving the church exposed to the elements.
"When it rains the water comes down that roof and it goes down into here and it comes out on to the floor," explains church worker Betty Thomas. "And that's why the floor's in that condition. Water came through there and broke through and it drops down into the pastors office."
"Just to take my money and just actually walk away," Riley says. "I wouldn't expect that out of the worst thief to take advantage of a church."
Pastor Riley says after Watts walked off the job in early September, he wasn't seen again until October 14th. That's when Riley says a church worker spotted Watts driving off with a load of construction material that belonged to the church.
"I've been burned. I've been robbed and it feels bad. It really feels bad," Riley says.
Angry, Riley filed a complaint with the Philadelphia Police, alleging fraud. He says cops looked for Watts last October but couldn't find him. Nine months later, the frustrated pastor called Fox 29 News.
Fox 29 Investigates caught up with Watts in the Logan section of the city, apparently coming back from a job.
"They paid you good money and you didn't finish the job," Jeff Cole said to Watts.
"I told them I was going to finish the job," Watts replied.
"Well, that was the end of 2011 when you did this work. You haven't been back, it's August."
"You see I've been up there on the roof and every time I go out there something happens to the truck."
"But the roof isn't done," Cole said. "The roof isn't done and water is pouring into the place."
"Well I was on the roof by myself because everybody is scared to go there on the roof, Watts said. "But I did go up there and did the work too."
"We gave this money, pastor Riley laments. "And now we're sitting in the same position we was in the beginning."
But Dr. Riley says he doesn't buy Watts' excuses. He says the issue is clear, Watts took the money and didn't finish the job. He says he wonders how the north Philly roofer can sleep at night.
"He has no fear, he has no conscience," Riley said. "He has nothing going on inside his mind when you come in and rob a church."
Pastor Riley says he would like to work things out with Watts, but there could be problems. It turns out Watts does not have a city-required license and the church would have to have permits to complete the work.
Meanwhile, Watts says he did "nine grand" in work for the church and did not take any of their material.
Riley says if he can't broker a deal with Watts, he'll press to have the roofer arrested.
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