A St. Paul man was arrested Christmas Eve in the alleged theft of more than $11,000 from Trinity Christian Church, 540 Hamline Av. N., St. Paul, authorities say.

The suspect, who hasn't been charged, is the church's treasurer and a member of its board of directors, police spokesman Tom Walsh said Wednesday.

According to a police report, the 33-year-old suspect was confronted Monday by other people connected to the church, who had copies of bank statements and logs of the missing money. The man said then that he had taken it, but planned to return it, the report said.

Walsh said the theft occurred between Dec. 1 and 24. Police reports did not indicate, he added, whether the man had said why he needed the money.

After the suspect was taken to the Ramsey County jail, the report said, authorities also found him in possession of what appeared to be methamphetamine. The suspected drugs were in a cigarette case, according to the police report.

The suspect, still in custody Wednesday, declined an interview request.

ANTHONY LONETREE