Iowa pastor arrested in Cloquet on sex charges

A singer and pastor from Iowa was arrested Saturday, Aug. 10, by Cloquet police officers on a warrant accusing the man of fondling two minor girls.

Emanuel J. Rodriguez, 44, was charged in Douglas County, Nebraska, with two counts of third-degree sexual assault of a child. An affidavit filed Friday accused Rodriguez of fondling two girls between Jan. 1, 2017, and May 17, 2019, inside two homes in Omaha previously owned by Rodriguez. The girls are now ages 12 and 11.

Cloquet acting police chief Carey Ferrell said a detective from Omaha contacted the police department Friday. She requested they attempt to locate Rodriguez, who was coming to Cloquet to perform in the Wood City Music Festival at Veterans Park in Cloquet. Rodriguez is the lead singer in the 70xForgiven Christian rock band, and is listed as a pastor with the Calvary Assembly of God Church in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Ferrell said the department was provided with a vehicle description and at approximately 8 a.m. Saturday officers located the vehicle and took Rodriquez into custody without incident.

Rodriguez appeared in Sixth District Carlton County Court Monday, Aug. 12, where an extradition hearing was held. Rodriguez did not oppose extradition to Nebraska, although he was still listed on the Carlton County jail roster on Tuesday night.

Wood City festival director Lee Harris said the Cloquet police handled the situation very professionally. He also said he hoped Rodriguez would get a fair trial, particularly considering all the publicity the arrest has generated.

“We are all innocent until proven guilty,” Harris said.

The performance by 70xForgiven was canceled Saturday.