An Arkansas pastor was arrested for allegedly doing meth with parishioners and conducting an exorcism on an emaciated toddler.

Lloyd Lasker Jr, who runs the House of Refuge and Deliverance Ministries church, was detained by police at a gas station allegedly in possession of methamphetamines and a pipe.

Police say they were earlier called to the church to do a welfare check and found a bruised and emaciated 21-month-old child and his mother.

The woman told them that the boy was “possessed by a demon” and the youngster was admitted to hospital with a brain bleed and malnourishment.

When police arrested 49-year-old Lasker in Mayflower, Arkansas, he reportedly admitted trying to carry out the exorcism but would not give officers any details.

Officers say he told them he did not know the drugs or pipe were in his truck but supposedly admitted taking the drug with parishioners and the boy’s mother.

When Lasker’s home was searched police found a shotgun, which as a convicted felon he was banned from possessing.

Lasker was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a gun by a convicted felon.

He was released from custody on a $7,500 bond and will appear in court in October.