A former employee of the Elkins City Water Department in West Virginia was arrested on Wednesday, July 8, after allegedly making violent threats against President Donald Trump and local Mayor Jerry Marco, authorities said.
Christopher Curtis, 44, faces a charge of threats of terroristic acts following an incident that unfolded immediately after he was terminated from his municipal job. The specific reasons behind his firing have not been released.
According to a criminal complaint, witnesses reported that Curtis began shouting profanities and making explicit threats after losing his job. Onlookers stated they watched Curtis handle a pipe wrench while acting as if he was going to harm the president.
The complaint details specific statements Curtis allegedly made during the outburst. Curtis reportedly stated that he was put on this earth to help cleanse the earth from people like President Trump.
Lockdown and Arrest
The sudden escalation forced officials to place all Elkins city offices on an immediate lockdown to ensure worker safety. Law enforcement used an emergency ping on Curtis’ cellphone to track his location as he moved through the area. Deputies ultimately apprehended him around 2 p.m. on Wednesday, just after he left the local fire department.
Court records show that Curtis has since pleaded not guilty to the felony charge. He remains in custody ahead of a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 14.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
