California man accused of communicating threats to Wake County Sheriff's Office and Jewish residents

RALEIGH, North Carolina (WTVD) — A Huntington Beach, Calif., man was arrested Friday on federal charges related to sending threats to people and agencies in North Carolina, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.

Kevin Dunlow, 62, was charged in an unsealed complaint Friday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, following his arrest in California.

“Violent and hate-fueled threats endanger the safety of individuals and entire communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This defendant is accused of making explicit and detailed threats, ranging from a bomb threat against the Wake County Sheriff's Office to threats against an elected official to telling a rabbi: 'I come to the Temple to kill all the Jews and the children.' The Department of Justice will prosecute anyone who makes unlawful threats motivated by anti-Semitism or bias of any kind.”

According to the affidavit, Dunlow made numerous threats, including against an elected official, members of law enforcement and several North Carolina synagogues while living in California. According to the documents, Dunlow said around May 7 that “Jews don't deserve to live.” The Jews did not deserve to be on this earth. I'm going to kill the Jews. I come to the Temple. kill all the Jews and children. »

He is also accused of making what turned out to be a false bomb threat to the Wake County Sheriff's Office.

“We will not normalize violent threats in America, whether they target law enforcement, elected officials, or ordinary citizens,” said United States Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “The complaint alleges that the defendant made violent threats against believers, police officers and civil servants. These cases will always receive our greatest attention.

Dunlow was charged with unlawfully using any form of communication to send a threat to intentionally harm or kidnap another person, and he was charged with unlawfully and knowingly making false bomb reports.

He faces five years in prison, on each count, if convicted.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.