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Patrick Thomas Egan, 39, was arrested Dec. 18 in Grand Junction,
Colorado, after police say he followed KKCO/KJCT reporter
Ja'Ronn Alex's vehicle for around 40 miles (64 kilometers) from
the Delta area. Alex told police that he believed he had been
followed and attacked because he is Pacific Islander.
After arriving in Grand Junction, Egan, who was driving a taxi,
pulled up next to Alex at a stoplight and, according to an
arrest affidavit, said something to the effect of: “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, then drove back to his news
station in the city. After he got out of his vehicle, Egan
chased Alex as he ran toward the station's door and demanded to
see his identification, according to the document laying out
police’s evidence in the case. Egan then tackled Alex, put him
in a headlock and “began to strangle him,” the affidavit said.
Coworkers who ran out to help and witnesses told police that
Alex appeared to be losing his ability to breathe during the
attack, which was partially 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 vehicle at the
time.
Egan was arrested on suspicion of bias-motivated crimes, second
degree assault and harassment. He is scheduled to appear in
court Thursday to learn whether prosecutors have filed formal
charges against him.
Egan's lawyer, Ruth Swift, was out of the office Friday and did
not return a telephone message seeking comment.
KKCO/KJCT vice president and general manager Stacey Stewart said
the station could not comment beyond what it has reported on the
attack.
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