Police arrested and charged an Illinois man who made public posts on social media threatening to assassinate President Donald Trump.
Joseph Lynn Pickett of Edwardsville was charged on June 15, the Belleville News-Democrat reported. Pickett will be held until trial to ensure the safety of people in the community because of his “mental instability,” according to court documents, ABC reported.
Two of Pickett’s co-workers at Lowes contacted Secret Service to report that he had posted threatening messages on Facebook.
According to the complaint filled by Secret Service Special Agent Vincent Pescitelli, Pickett “did knowingly and willfully make a threat to take the life of, to kidnap, and to inflict bodily harm” against President Trump on Facebook.
Pickett’s posts were filled with profanities and included detailed threats against the president. He also bragged about having weapons.
“Please call the Cops on me now so I have an excuse to use my firepower .... AR 15, AK 47, s and w 40, Sig sauer 9 mm. Oh I’m so afraid of the police now..,” he wrote, according to ABC.
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