A Colorado man is facing charges of bias and allegedly assaulting a television news reporter after he demanded to know if he was a citizen, saying “This is Trump’s America,” according to court documents.
Patrick Thomas Egan, 39, was arrested Dec. 18 in Grand Junction after police say he followed KKCO/KJCT reporter Ja’Ronn Alex’s car about 40 miles from the Delta area. Alex told the police that he believed he was followed and attacked because he was from the Pacific Island.
After arriving in Grand Junction, Egan, who was driving a taxi, pulled up next to Alex at the bus stop and, according to the arrest affidavit, said something to the effect: “Are you an American citizen? This is Trump’s America now! I am a Marine and I take an oath to protect this country from people like you!”
Alex, who had been reporting, then drove back to his news station in town. After getting out of his car, Egan chased Alex as he ran towards the entrance of the station to see who he was, according to the police report in the case. Egan then tackled Alex, headbutted him and “began to choke him,” the affidavit states. His colleagues who came out to help and witnesses told the police that Alex seemed to be losing his breath when he was attacked, which was 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 van at the time.
Egan was arrested on charges of bias, assault and harassment. He is scheduled to appear in court Thursday to hear whether prosecutors have formally charged him.
Egan’s attorney, Ruth Swift, was out of the office Friday and did not return a phone message seeking comment.
KKCO/KJCT vice president and general manager Stacey Stewart said the station could not comment beyond what it reported about the attack.
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