A Colorado man, Patrick Thomas Egan, 39, is facing bias-motivated charges after allegedly attacking a television news reporter and demanding proof of his citizenship, reportedly declaring, “This is Trump’s America now,” according to court documents.
Egan was arrested Dec. 18 in Grand Junction after allegedly following KKCO/KJCT reporter Ja’Ronn Alex’s vehicle for 40 miles (64 kilometers) from the Delta area. Alex, who is of Pacific Islander descent, told police he believed he was targeted because of his ethnicity.
According to an arrest affidavit, Egan confronted Alex at a stoplight in Grand Junction. Shouting from his taxi, Egan reportedly 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!”
Alex, who had been out reporting, drove back to his news station in the city. When Alex got out of his vehicle, Egan chased him toward the station’s door, demanding to see his identification. Egan then tackled Alex, placed him in a headlock, and “began to strangle him,” the affidavit states. Witnesses, including coworkers, intervened and reported that Alex appeared to be struggling to breathe. The attack was partially captured on surveillance video.
Egan was arrested on suspicion of bias-motivated crimes, second-degree assault, and harassment. He is scheduled to appear in court Thursday, where prosecutors will decide whether to file formal charges.
Ja’Ronn Alex, a native of Detroit, was driving a marked news vehicle at the time of the attack, according to KKCO/KJCT. Station vice president Stacey Stewart said the station could not comment beyond its report of the incident.
Egan’s attorney, Ruth Swift, did not return requests for comment.
