A 55-year-old St. Clair Shores man has been arraigned after reportedly threatening campaign workers and using his car as a potential weapon. Jason Lynch Lafond is facing charges of ethnic intimidation and assault with a dangerous weapon, relating to an October 12 incident where he allegedly targeted volunteers handing out materials for the Harris/Walz presidential campaign. According to details from an Audacy report, Lafond demanded Trump campaign materials at an event and, upon not finding them, erupted in slurs towards the volunteers before trying to hit them with his vehicle.
After explaining there were no Trump materials that day, the volunteers claimed to have narrowly escaped injury as Lafond accelerated his car toward them. Authorities said he then fled the scene. This information has been outlined in a statement provided by the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office and shared on Macomb County Michigan. The incident has brought three counts of assault and three counts of ethnic intimidation—the latter carrying a possible penalty of two years, while the assault charges could lead to four years of imprisonment if convicted.
In order to prove ethnic intimidation, prosecutors will need to establish three elements beyond a reasonable doubt, as outlined in the reports. There must be a credible threat of physical harm or property damage without justifiable reason, and the biased nature of the defendant's actions must be demonstrated—specifically targeting the victims based on their sexual orientation or other protected categories. Similarly, an assault charge entails proving that the defendant’s actions evoked a reasonable fear of immediate harm.
Lafond's arraignment occurred last Thursday, October 31, with District Court Judge Mark Fratacangeli setting a personal bond at $50,000. The conditions also include no contact orders for any victims or witnesses, and Lafond is required to wear a GPS tether. His next court appearance is scheduled for November 8. Reflecting the gravity of these events, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter J. Lucido said in a statement obtained by Audacy, "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."
The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office has emphasized its commitment to justice and the law, iterating that all accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty. This case is particularly noted following Lucido's establishment of a Hate Crimes Unit within the office, supported by a U.S. Department of Justice grant—a distinction only 16 organizations nationwide received last year. With the appointment of Michigan's first hate crimes prosecutor dedicated solely at the county level, the office aims at vigorous enforcement and community education.
