Preacher Dials on the Run : Commune Chief Won’t Be Silent but Continues to Elude Police

Tony Alamo, the unorthodox Christian preacher, is a fugitive from the law, but police seem to be the only ones who can’t find him.

Since sheriff’s deputies raided his commune in a remote canyon in Saugus Thursday to arrest him on suspicion of felony child abuse, Alamo has been returning calls to reporters who leave messages with the church answering service. He also has been releasing lengthy news releases.

On Friday morning, the mercurial minister even spent an hour by phone fielding questions posed by KABC radio personality Michael Jackson and hostile callers to the station.

“We don’t know where Tony Alamo is, but apparently the rest of the world does and every news agency has talked to him,” Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Richard Dinsmoore lamented.

Alamo wouldn’t divulge where he was. And, on Friday, he gave listeners to Jackson’s show mixed signals about his plans. Jackson postponed an interview with Ann McLaughlin, U.S. secretary of Labor, to take Alamo’s call.

When asked by Jackson about the arrest warrant, Alamo replied, “That’s hearsay. I don’t know anything about that.” But later, he declared, “I’m on my way into Los Angeles to face any court charges.”

About 60 deputies raided the Tony and Susan Alamo Foundation commune after authorities received complaints from a child--removed from the foundation last week--who alleged that he and other children had been beaten.

Four people were arrested on suspicion of child abuse, but Alamo and two other foundation members were not found on the premises. Deputies arrested five other foundation followers on unrelated charges.

“This is the first time this kind of an accusation has ever come up in our church regarding child abuse,” Alamo told radio listeners. “We’ve never abused any children. We’re accused of spoiling our children rotten.”

During the radio program, Alamo attacked his critics, who accuse him of operating a cult for self-enrichment. Alamo, a singer of easy-listening songs, wears gold and diamond jewelry and wraps himself in fur coats.

Alamo said he only models the finery in the hopes of selling it and making some money for his church.

The minister, whose foundation is known for distributing anti-Catholic literature, also took potshots at the Catholic Church.

Alamo’s insistence that the Pope presides over a “one-world government” and controls the Los Angeles Times, the Associated Press, the television networks and most of the media, appeared to unnerve Jackson.

“You’re full of baloney,” Jackson told his guest.

“You’re full of baloney,” Alamo shot back.

When a tearful radio caller, who said her sister is a member of the sect, called Alamo a paranoid cult leader, an indignant Alamo asked Jackson, “Do I act paranoid?”

The talk-show host replied, “You’ve gone off the deep end.”

Authorities would not discuss if they are making much of an attempt to find Alamo. But Deputy Dinsmoore asked a reporter checking on any late developments for a favor: “If he calls you, tell him to call me.”