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A Colorado man was recently arrested for allegedly assaulting a television news reporter after questioning his US citizenship and saying, “This is Trump’s America now.”
The incident
On December 18, Patrick Thomas Egan, 39, allegedly followed KKCO/KJCT reporter Ja’Ronn Alex for approximately 40 miles from Delta to Grand Junction in Colorado. Egan, driving a taxi, confronted Alex at a stoplight. According to the arrest affidavit, Egan said something like: “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!” according to a CNN report.
The reporter, a Detroit native, told the police that he believed he was followed and attacked because he is Pacific Islander.
Alex was driving a news vehicle at the time of the incident. He drove back to his news station after the incident. When he got out of his vehicle, Egan allegedly chased him as he ran toward the station’s door, demanding identification. The affidavit states Egan tackled Alex, put him in a headlock, and “began to strangle him.” Coworkers and witnesses intervened, reporting that Alex appeared to be struggling to breathe. The incident was partially recorded on surveillance video.
Egan arrested
Police arrested Egan in Grand Junction on suspicion of bias-motivated crimes, second-degree assault, and harassment. He is scheduled for a court appearance on Thursday to determine formal charges.
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