ATLANTA, Mich. (WWJ) - A Northern Michigan man was arraigned on hate crime and terrorism charges after he made a series of threatening calls to 911 dispatch.
According to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, Gregory Simms, 37, of Atlanta, was arraigned on Malicious Use and Threat of Terrorism charges on Friday after he allegedly called the Montmorency County 911 line and made repeated threats to the dispatchers.
Simms supposedly made the calls after learning he had a warrant for his arrest in Saginaw County. Simms phoned 911 dispatch three times and allegedly said he would send any “pigs” who attempted to arrest him “back in body bags," Nessel's office added.
Simms went as far as to identity making the threats. He was later arrested. The attorney general's office did not reveal what warrant charges Simms was sought for in Saginaw County.
Nessel vowed her office would fully pursue the case and hold Simms accountable.
“Threats to public service workers, the hearts of our communities, require serious charges,” Nessel said in a prepared statement.“ Our 9-1-1 centers are designed to respond to life-threatening emergencies, not intimidation from the citizens they serve. I’m proud of the work the Hate Crimes and Domestic Terrorism Unit of my office has done to ensure that threats like these are met with robust enforcement to pursue accountability and maintain public safety.”
Simms was given a bond of $250,000 after the court determined him to be a flight risk and a danger to the community.
The 36-year-old is scheduled for his Probable Cause hearing on May 12 with his in-person Preliminary Exam set for May 17.