The Daily Populous Saturday December 28th, 2024 evening edition
Authored by apnews.com and submitted by Rock-n-roll-Kevin

DENVER (AP) — A Colorado man is facing possible bias-motivated charges for allegedly attacking a television news reporter after demanding to know whether he was a citizen, saying “This is Trump’s America now,” according to court documents.

Patrick Thomas Egan, 39, was arrested Dec. 18 in Grand Junction, Colorado, after police say he followed KKCO/KJCT reporter Ja’Ronn Alex’s vehicle for around 40 miles (64 kilometers) from the Delta area. Alex told police that he believed he had been followed and attacked because he is Pacific Islander.

After arriving in Grand Junction, Egan, who was driving a taxi, pulled up next to Alex at a stoplight and, according to an arrest affidavit, said something to the effect of: “Are you even a U.S. citizen? This is Trump’s America now! I’m a Marine and I took an oath to protect this country from people like you!”

Alex, who had been out reporting, then drove back to his news station in the city. After he got out of his vehicle, Egan chased Alex as he ran toward the station’s door and demanded to see his identification, according to the document laying out police’s evidence in the case. Egan then tackled Alex, put him in a headlock and “began to strangle him,” the affidavit said. Coworkers who ran out to help and witnesses told police that Alex appeared to be losing his ability to breathe during the attack, which was partially captured on surveillance video, according to the document.

According to the station’s website, Alex is a native of Detroit. KKCO/KJCT reported that he was driving a news vehicle at the time.

Egan was arrested on suspicion of bias-motivated crimes, second degree assault and harassment. He is scheduled to appear in court Thursday to learn whether prosecutors have filed formal charges against him.

Egan’s lawyer, Ruth Swift, was out of the office Friday and did not return a telephone message seeking comment.

KKCO/KJCT vice president and general manager Stacey Stewart said the station could not comment beyond what it has reported on the attack.

esther_lamonte on December 28th, 2024 at 05:42 UTC »

This headline soft sells what happened. This lunatic followed a reporter for 40 miles by car then ran and tackled him as the reporter tried to flee from his car to the news station door to safety, and then proceeded to choke him.

Rock-n-roll-Kevin on December 28th, 2024 at 05:30 UTC »

MAGA fanatic Patrick Egan followed KKCO reporter Ja’Ronn Alex for several miles by car. Egan, who was driving a taxi, pulled up next to Alex at a stoplight and said: “Are you even a U.S. citizen? This is Trump’s America now! I’m a Marine and I took an oath to protect this country from people like you!” After following the reporter to the news station, Egan rushed and tackled the reporter and began choking them until he was restrained by several KKCO employees.

Egan is facing felony charges of bias-motivated crimes, 2nd degree assault by strangulation, and harassment. bail set at $20,000.

jeffinRTP on December 28th, 2024 at 05:21 UTC »

I guess it's going to become more common over the next 4 years.