(WWJ) — A Macomb County man has been charged with ethnic intimidation and assault with a dangerous weapon after he allegedly nearly hit campaign workers working an event in St. Clair Shores.
Jason Lafond was arraigned Thursday in connection with the incident that happened near a tent in the VFW parking lot on Jefferson Avenue, according to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office.
Lafond allegedly went to the event looking for campaign materials for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, according to the prosecutor's office.
When a volunteer working the tent explained that on that day it was only a Harris/Walz campaign tent, he allegedly shouted derogatory slurs, including ones targeting sexual orientation.
He allegedly went on to say when Trump wins, he will "exterminate" people like them, the prosecutor's office said.
Lafond then returned to his car and sped towards the volunteers, who had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit, officials said. He then fled the scene.
St. Clair Shores investigators identified Lafond and forwarded the case to the prosecutor's office.
Proving an ethnic intimidation charge can include establishing three key elements beyond a reasonable doubt:
• The defendant must have either threatened physical harm to the victim or threatened to damage the victim's property in a way that appeared credible.
• The defendant's actions must have lacked any justifiable reason.
• Finally, prosecutors must show that the defendant acted out of bias, targeting the victim specifically because of their race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or nationality.
An assault charge can include a showing that the defendant took action that would cause a reasonable person to fear immediate harm.
The judge set a $50,000 personal bond for Lafond and ordered him to have no contact with any victims or witnesses. He also must wear a GPS tether. His next court date is scheduled for Nov. 8.
"This alleged assault was not just an assault on the victims. It was an assault on the rights of the victims to express themselves freely and safely, and impacts our entire community. Acts of violence, assaults or harassment based on someone's identity have no place here. It threatens our Democracy and the exercise of free speech in a fair and secure election," said Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido.
Prosecutor Lucido launched the Hate Crimes Unit and secured a vital U.S. Department of Justice grant to support it. This distinction was granted to only 16 organizations nationwide last year. Lucido appointed Michigan's first and only solely-dedicated hate crimes prosecutor at a county level, ensuring robust enforcement and community education.
