Gary Lee Bullock was taken into custody for the death of Reverend Eric Freed, a known-community member and educator who was found dead in St. Bernard's church rectory in North California on New Years Day after he missed morning mass, the Associated Press reported.

Bullock who is 43-years-old and lives in Redway had been arrested hours before killing Freed on New Years by the Humboldt County Police Department, the AP reported. Bullock was first arrested on Tuesday for public intoxication in Garberville and was taken to a jail in Eureka 67 miles away.

After being uncooperative and agitated, leading police to restrain him due to his erratic behavior, deputies took him to a hospital for a mental evaluation and he was later held in jail for almost eight hours before being released after midnight on Tuesday, the AP reported.

The Eureka Police Department received a call describing a man of Bullock's appearance who was suspiciously wondering near the jail and 5 yards from where Freed was later found dead around two in the morning on Wednesday, according to the AP.

After arriving at the scene, police said Bullock was not intoxicated and did not need an emergency psychological hold, which in the state of California can be given to someone who is thought to be a danger to themselves or others, the AP reported. This law allows the person to be held involuntarily for up to 72 hours and given mental health treatment.

Nicholas Pacilio, a spokesman for the state attorney general, said police must have reason to believe the person needs the hold before taking them to a facility or hospital where a mental health professional will decide if the person needs to be placed on the hold, according to the AP. If the person is held for more than 72 hours, they have a right to an attorney and a hearing before a judge.

Since officers believed he did not pose a threat to himself or others they took him to an emergency shelter where he was supposed to spend the rest of the night, the AP reported.

After Bullock's last run in with the police, a security guard found him near the church after investigating a noise he heard, according to the AP. The security guard then told Bullock to get off the property, according to police.

Police said the exact time of Freed's death remains unknown, along with the reason Bullock killed him and how he did so but investigators found signs of a forced entry and a struggle, the AP reported. Freed's body also showed signs of blunt force trauma.

"The reverend was a victim of a violent crime," Eureka Police Chief Andrew Mills said, according to the AP. "We're not sure on the motive but don't believe it was a robbery at this point."

The warrant for Bullock's arrest was given on Thursday leading to his arrest in the Garberville area. Authorities reported Freed's vehicle was also located, the AP reported.