A Colorado man is possibly facing bias-motivated charges after allegedly attacking a television news reporter while demanding to know if he was a citizen, declaring, “This is Trump’s America now,” according to CNN
Patrick Thomas Egan, 39, was arrested on December 18 in Grand Junction after police reported that he followed KKCO/KJCT reporter Ja’Ronn Alex for about 40 miles from the Delta area. Alex told authorities he felt he was targeted because he is Pacific Islander.
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Once they reached Grand Junction, Egan, who was driving a taxi, pulled up next to Alex at a stoplight. According to the arrest affidavit, he reportedly said something along the lines of: “Are you even a US 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 finishing his reporting, Alex drove back to his station in Grand Junction. As he got out of his vehicle, Egan chased him down, demanding to see his identification. According to police documents, Egan tackled Alex, put him in a headlock, and “began to strangle him.” Coworkers who rushed out to help and witnesses reported that Alex appeared to be struggling to breathe during the attack, which was partially caught on surveillance video.
Alex, originally from Detroit, was driving a news vehicle at the time of the incident, according to the station’s website.
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Egan was arrested on suspicion of bias-motivated crimes, second-degree assault, and harassment. He’s set to appear in court on Thursday to find out if prosecutors will file formal charges against him.
Egan’s lawyer, Ruth Swift, was out of the office on Friday and did not respond to requests for comment.
KKCO/KJCT’s vice president and general manager, Stacey Stewart, stated that the station couldn’t provide any additional comments beyond what has already been reported about the attack.
