Warren, Michigan has become the focal point for serious allegations of threats against law enforcement and judiciary, following a series of messages aimed at spreading terror within the community. Andrew Roberts, a 42-year-old man from Warren, stands accused of using a computer to communicate these threats and has been charged with felony false report or threat of terrorism in addition to using a computer to commit a crime. As mentioned by ClickOnDetroit, the messages included dire threats such as "Death to Warren PD," "Death to Judge Faunce," and "Death to Chris Wells with Warren PD."
Roberts' arrest ensued after a police scanner website alerted law enforcement about the dangerous messages that had been sent on Oct. 27. Accompanying the written threats was a photo depicting a person firing a gun by the driver's seat of a police cruiser, a message that ClickOnDetroit reports as stating, "When this starts to happen you’ll know why." The charges, amid an already tense environment surrounding discussions of public safety and authority, aim to mitigate any potential influence such threats might carry.
A former Warren 37th District Court judge, now sitting on the bench in Macomb County Circuit Court, Suzanne Faunce was one of the targeted individuals. Warren Police Officer Chris Wells was also specifically named in the threats. Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido has taken a firm stance against such actions, as FOX 2 Detroit quoted him saying, "We will not tolerate threats meant to intimidate police officers or judges. Such conduct endangers public safety and undermines confidence in our courts." These comments underscore the severity with which the legal system views threats of this nature.
Demonstrating the serious nature of these accusations, Roberts faces the possibility of up to 20 years in prison for each felony charge. The habitual offender-fourth offense notice filed could potentially increase his penalties to life imprisonment. A $500,000 bond restrains Roberts further, prohibiting contact with any judges or court employees, as detailed by CBS Detroit. Injecting an additional layer to the situation, Roberts encountered an additional charge of resisting and obstructing arrest during his arrest, for which his bond was set at $100,000.
Moving forward, Roberts is expected to appear in court on Nov. 19 for a probable cause hearing. Subsequently, a preliminary exam is set for Nov. 26, which may offer further details on the tenor of evidence against him and the judicial course that awaits, as per CBS Detroit.
