A Colorado man, Patrick Egan, 38, has been accused of tackling and strangling a television reporter, Ja’Ronn Alex, in a potentially racially motivated attack. According to police, Egan followed Alex’s car for about 40 miles from the Delta area to Grand Junction, Colorado, before pulling up to him at a stoplight and verbally harassing him.
Egan, who was driving a Sunshine Rides taxi, shouted at Alex that he was a marine and that he “took an oath to protect this country from people like you!” The young reporter, who is originally from Detroit, was coming back from an assignment when the incident occurred and was driving a company vehicle.
As Alex left his car and walked to the news station’s entrance, Egan ran after him and ordered him to show his identification. The situation quickly turned violent, as Egan tackled the reporter, put him in a headlock, and began to strangle him. Fellow reporters rushed to help Alex, who was struggling to breathe during the attack.
Police soon arrived and arrested Egan on charges of bias-motivated crimes, 2nd degree assault by strangulation, and harassment by following and ethnic intimidation. He was taken to Mesa County Detention Facility and will appear in court on Thursday to learn what formal charges have been filed against him.
KKCO reported that Egan’s bail is set at $20,000. The taxi company, Sunshine Rides, has suspended Egan pending a full investigation and will assist law enforcement.
Alex, who is Pacific Islander, told police that he believes he was targeted because of his race. On social media, people have shared their disgust with Egan’s actions, with many calling him a racist and a loser.