Left: Zachary Degross. Right: Social media post Degross allegedly wrote on social media (Jacksonville County Sheriff’s Office).
After making a threatening comment related to protesters demonstrating against mass deportation operations carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a man from Florida has been arrested.
Zachary Degross, 26, stands accused of sending a written threat to conduct an act of terrorism.
Across the United States, there have been numerous immigration-related protests, particularly in cities like Los Angeles, where people are expressing their opposition to the large-scale deportation efforts being enforced by ICE under the directives of President Donald Trump.
For further information from Law&Crime: A suspect accused of threatening to assassinate Trump claimed the president was in danger and expressed a desire to harm him, according to federal authorities.
According to authorities, Degross responded to a social media post inquiring whether the Sunshine State cities of Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Jacksonville and Tallahassee were having any protests.
Degross chimed in on Tuesday with an error-ridden and typo-filled response.
“Look as a Jacksonville resident of I see any large gatherings to protest ice I’m going to grab my buddies tow truck and plow through every ignant, un-american swine I see protestong the deportation of ILLEGAL immigrants, since you believe in them so much why don’t you go with.”
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A “vigilant citizen” noticed the comment and contacted the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the agency said in a Facebook post. Deputies traced the post to Degross and went to his home for an interview. After speaking with him, cops said they had enough evidence to make an arrest.
Deputies said they take every threat seriously.
“Making a threat like the one Degross made is a felony. If you are making threats online to harm others, even if you don’t intend to follow through with that action, we will arrest you,” deputies wrote.
As of Thursday morning, Degross remained in the Duval County Jail without bond. It’s unclear if he has obtained a lawyer. A probable cause arrest affidavit that would further detail the allegations against Degross was not immediately available.
