Man accused of attacking TV reporter, saying ‘This is Trump’s America now’

DENVER — A Colorado man is facing possible bias-motivated charges for allegedly attacking a television news reporter after demanding to know if he was a citizen and saying, “This is Trump’s America now,” according to court documents.

Patrick Thomas Egan, 39, was arrested on December 18 in Grand Junction, Colorado, after police say he followed KKCO/KJCT reporter Ja’Ronn Alex’s vehicle for about 40 miles from the Delta area. Alex told police he believed he was followed and attacked because he was a Pacific Islander.

After arriving in Grand Junction, Egan, who was driving a taxi, stopped next to Alex at a stoplight and, according to an arrest affidavit, said something along the lines 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 was reporting, then drove back to his news station in town. After getting out of his car, Egan chased Alex as he ran to the station door and demanded to see his ID, according to the police evidence document in the case. Egan then tackled Alex, put him in a headlock and “began to choke him,” the affidavit said. Co-workers who ran outside to help and witnesses told police that Alex appeared to lose 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 from Detroit. KKCO/KJCT reported 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 on Thursday to hear whether prosecutors have filed formal charges against him.

Egan’s attorney, 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 further what it reported about the attack.