A man from St. Clair Shores accused of trying to knock down Kamala Harris volunteers

MOUNT CLEMENS, Michigan (FOX 2) – A 55-year-old man was accused of trying to shoot down volunteers distributing presidential campaign materials and making threats aimed at sexual orientation.

Jason Lynch Lafond was charged with three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, a four-year felony, and three counts of ethnic intimidation, a two-year felony, by the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office.

On Oct. 12, investigators say Lafond went to a tent in the VFW parking lot on Jefferson Avenue looking for campaign materials about former President Donald Trump, Oct. 12.

A volunteer told him it was the day for Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign material. This allegedly led to Lafond shouting derogatory insults, including those aimed at sexual orientation. He also said that when Trump wins, he will “exterminate” people like them.

Lafond returned to his vehicle and sped toward the volunteers, who had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit. Lafond then fled the scene.

Police Department St. Clair Shores identified the man after an investigation.

“This alleged attack was not just an attack on the victims, it was an attack on the victims’ rights to express themselves freely and safely, and it impacts our entire community,” District Attorney Pete Lucido said in a statement. “Acts of violence, attacks or harassment based on someone’s identity have no place here. It threatens our democracy and the exercise of freedom of expression in a fair and safe election.”

On Thursday, Lafond was granted a $50,000 personal bond in St. Louis County District Court. Clair Shores.

Lafond was ordered to have no contact with victims or witnesses and must wear a GPS link. The next hearing is scheduled for November 8.

Lucido’s office said that proving a charge of ethnic intimidation depends on three key elements:

• The defendant must have either threatened physical harm to the victim or threatened to damage the victim’s property in a manner that appeared credible.
• The defendant’s actions must have been without any just cause. Finally, prosecutors must show that the defendant acted with prejudice, targeting the victim in particular because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or nationality.
• An assault charge may include a showing that the defendant took actions that would cause a reasonable person to fear imminent harm.