ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – On Tuesday, the Delta County Board of Commissioners addressed the public at its first meeting since three members received death threats.
On March 8, Commissioners David Moyle, Bob Barron, and Robert Petersen—who each face a recall election in May—say they received an email stating, “Resign now or you will die next week.” In the days since, Petersen and Moyle say they have been more cautious in public.
“I’ve been very careful, especially leaving meetings,” said Petersen, “but I’ve been followed after meetings most of the year, so I’m used to that. But my head’s on a swivel; I’m watching my back.”
“I’m disgusted by it,” Moyle told WZMQ 19. “My family’s nervous. This is not my first death threat either, but you’re not going to bully me, so I’m going to stick around.”
Detectives from the Michigan State Police (MSP) Gladstone Post are investigating the threat. Petersen says he is grateful for their dedication to finding the person who sent the email.
“I want to see the person prosecuted for sure,” he said. “They have sent out a warrant to Verizon for the person’s IP address. Whether anything comes of it, I have no idea. We’re all kind of just sitting back, waiting for the next shoe to drop.”
During the meeting, Moyle refuted suspicions that he was behind the email.
“A couple of rocket scientists said I was inventing this death threat,” he said. “I was not. I just want it to go away.”
Moyle also addressed the growing tension between some members of the public and the board.
“There’s been a lot of chaos this past year,” he said. “I believe it’s intended, and I do believe this recall is on political lines.”
He told WZMQ 19 he is “looking forward to a better day.”
“I would like to encourage anybody who doesn’t like my policies to sit down, I’ll have coffee with you,” he said. “You should be able to talk about politics or religion without getting offensive to people, and until we grow up as a country and do that, we’re in for a rough road to hoe.”
According to the MSP Gladstone Post, despite claims, the FBI is not involved in the investigation, nor have any threats of terrorism been made.
Commissioner Barron spoke with WZMQ 19 over the weekend about the threat. Click here for that story.
