WASHINGTON – A man who repeatedly threatened to kill Darren Wilson, formerly with the Ferguson, Missouri Police Department, members of the officer’s family and other law enforcement officers, was arrested on Tuesday, officials said
Jaleel Tariq Abdul-Jabbar, 46, was arrested at his home in Kirkland without incident.
The defendant is facing up to five years in prison.
According to the criminal complaint, Abdul-Jabbar started posting threats on his Facebook page shortly after the August 9, 2014 shooting of Michael Brown, through late November. Abdul-Jabbar posted various statements about killing police officers and traveling to Ferguson, Missouri. Among others, Abdul-Jabbar stated: “We need to kill (the officer) and anything that has a badge on.” Abdul-Jabbar also used Facebook communications to attempt to acquire a firearm.
“We are fortunate to live in a country where the right to speak out about current events and disagree with our government is protected by the highest law of the land. Our freedom of speech does not, however, extend to making threats to kill or injure law enforcement officers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes.
Adding, “Although we each have the right to express our views about the decision reached by the state grand jury in Ferguson, Missouri, we cannot tolerate violence or threats of violence that are intended to intimidate, and ultimately silence debate. Such threats are crimes, and the individuals who make them must be held to account.”
Abdul-Jabbar is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by the FBI, officials said.