A Colorado man has been arrested after he allegedly followed television station reporter for 40 miles in his taxi and then attacked him when he got out at his station, choking him and demanding to know if the reporter is an American citizen.
“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!” Patrick Egan reportedly shouted at KKCO/KJCT reporter Ja’Ronn Alex at a traffic light in Grand Junction on December 18, The Associated Press reported.
Alex is of Pacific Island descent but was born in Detroit, according to his bio on the station web page. It’s not known if Egan was really a Marine.
Egan then chased and physically attacked Alex, demanding to see his identification, when he got out of his vehicle at the station, where several other employees rescued him. The police report on the incident said part of the attack was captured on surveillance video.
Alex was driving a marked station vehicle at the time.
Kelly Millan, general manager of Egan’s employer Sunshine Rides, said the company had suspended the driver, KKCO reported.
“This type of behavior has no place in our society and I strongly condemn it,” Millan said in a statement. “I deeply regret the harm and disruption this has caused the victim, his family and co-workers. Sunshine Rides has suspended Egan pending a full investigation, will assist law enforcement and will use this incident to re-emphasize our core values and expectations with our entire team.”
Egan, meanwhile, charged arrested on suspicion of bias-motivated crimes, second degree assault, and harassment and given a $20,000 bond. He is due to appear in court on Thursday, when prosecutors will have decided whether to formally charge him.
