Bridegroom Gets To The Church On Time - And So Do Police

PHILADELPHIA - He's not the man she married.

Or maybe he's not the man they arrested.

Take your pick: Alonzo Nowell, bridegroom, or Rufus Lawson, convicted jewel thief.

But all agree that the man who skipped bail during his jewelry-heist trial is the same man who got to Zion Baptist Church on time to be married - then got arrested at the altar by seven police officers and one sergeant.

Sorting out the double life of the bridegroom now behind bars is only the tip of the trouble that marred Katrina Josey's unusual wedding last Saturday.

The arrest in the church drew outrage from a coalition of black ministers, who said the incident smacked of racism and showed a "diabolical disrespect for the sanctity of the house of God."

Police Commissioner Richard Neal called it "a shame" and began an investigation.

Police sources said there are no specific guidelines for how officers are supposed to act when making arrests in a church or a similar environment.

Sources said police figured that Lawson, 29, was less likely to be armed - or dangerous - in the church during his wedding ceremony.

Or is that Nowell?

"Alonzo Nowell" is listed as the husband in the marriage application filed with Philadelphia's Marriage Bureau, even though the warrant executed by wedding-crashing cops Saturday was for "Lawson."

According to police, Rufus Lawson, who sometimes goes by the names "Ricky Carr" and "James Jones," robbed a Philadelphia jewelry store of at least $30,000. Lawson had been a fugitive for more than six weeks after he skipped out during his trial. He was found guilty in absentia.

Members of Josey's family say they were unaware of their new family member's recent brush with the law.

But as prospective in-laws go, Lawson was OK, they said.

"We've known him for years," said Katrina's sister, Dolores Fulton, who served as maid of honor. "He and my sister are close. He never gave her disrespect. He took care of the children."

The couple have known each other for 11 years and have two children, Yasmine, 8, and Rufus Jr., 3.

Still, Fulton, said "we never got too much into his business."

That business, according to Alonzo Nowell's marriage application, was "warehouse employee."