The FOX 8 I-TEAM has learned local and federal agents are now investigating after threats were made to some people who support President Donald Trump for reelection.
The threats showed up in a chilling letter that came in the mail, which at least several homes in Brook Park received. Those homes have signs or flags supporting Trump.
The letters are all the same and say in part, “You people that support Trump, you will get payback for it. We will run you out of the city.”
Copy of the letter sent to the FOX 8 I-Team
Among those getting the letters, Tracy Udrija-Peters and her husband.
“What’s gonna happen?” she said. “Do we have to take the chance someone might try to do something to our home or whatever? This has been just a little bit scary.”
Another homeowner said, “I’m taking it seriously. I’m not sure what to expect. But, it’s concerning.”
We noticed the letters went to homes where people are clearly supporting President Trump, but they’re not addressed to anyone by name.
So did someone drive around taking note of homes with Trump signs?
The letters also includes a line saying, “Wait ‘til you need city service, you will be shunned.”
Brook Park Mayor Mike Gammell said, “I’m appalled.”
He points out, no matter how someone votes, they’ll still get police protection and streets plowed.
“Regardless of who wins the election, we’re gonna support who wins. We’re gonna operate the city, treat people fairly and move on,” he said.
What about following the trail of that mail? At first glance, no obvious clues. The postmark shows Cleveland, but the letters have no return address.
Brook Park police have opened an investigation, and the US Postal Inspection Service says it is working with the FBI to investigate.
In a statement, the Postal Inspection Service said, “And when these attacks threaten to intimidate American voters in the midst of an election, we respond swiftly with the FBI to ensure that citizens can trust that their mail and the election, two of America’s most trusted institutions, are free from malicious interference. “
While the targets of those letters tell us, they can’t pass it off as a prank, it won’t stop them from showing support for their candidate.
“I’m standing my ground. I’m leaving my signs up. That’s the beauty of this country. It’s free speech,” Udrija-Peters said.
The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspector are working with police in New Hampshire to find whoever mailed threatening letters to President Trump supporters. Three people in Milford and two in Brookline received the same threatening letter.
“I just stood there kind of in a state of shock like, ‘Holy Mary, mother of God, I got one,’” Kelly, who asked we not use her last name, said.
It was Saturday, Oct. 17 when Kelly opened the letter.
“It was a tri-folded piece of paper and it had tape on it,” Kelly said.
Part of it read, “Your address has been added into our database as a target for when we attack should Trump not concede the election. We recommend that you check your home insurance policy and make [sure] that it is correct and that it has adequate coverage for fire damage.”
“You kind of stand there and you’re like, ‘What do I think? What am I supposed to do?’” she said.
It’s no secret that Kelly is a Trump supporter. She describes her front yard as, ‘Trumped out.’ Kelly said she’s had signs and flags stolen before but whoever wrote this letter took it too far.
“You’ve infringed on my personal life now. You’re not just attacking my party or who I represent but you’re attacking my home, my family, you’re threatening me with burning down my house,” she said.
Three people in Milford and two in Brookline received the letters.
“It is very disturbing. It’s very serious. That’s why you have all these agencies involved,” Milford Police Capt. Craig Frye said.
Along with local police, the FBI and U.S. Postal Inspector are investigating.
“We have sent the letters to our laboratory in Dulles, Virginia for further examination of those letters,” Lori McCallister with the U.S. Postal Inspector’s Office said.
Police say all the people who received the letters are Trump supporters but that doesn’t necessarily mean Biden supporters sent them.
“We are trying to figure out who actually sent the letters, if they are in relationship to Trump supporters at this point. That’s not to say who actually sent them or if it’s political in nature,” Capt. Frye said.
Kelly says it’s not just about President Trump, she’s a lifelong Republican and has never been shy about it, but now she’s uneasy.
“I’m always looking out the window now. The dog is always at the door,” she said.
In order to stay safe, Kelly and her husband installed cameras and asked neighbors to stay on the lookout.
ORIGINAL STORY:
This is not ok!
This is criminal behavior and whoever is doing this needs to go to prison for a long, long time!
Multiple homeowners reported today receiving threatening letters sent to their homes threatening to burn the homes down because they had been “identified as a Trump supporter”.
Take a look:
Trump supporters receive letter threatening an arson attack on their home https://t.co/OM97WO0D4L
Milford police are trying to track down whoever is behind a series of letters that were sent to supporters of President Donald Trump threatening to burn down their homes.
Kelly, a Milford resident who asked to be identified only by her first name, said she received one of the letters.
"Dear neighbor," the letter read. "You have been identified by our group as being a Trump supporter. Your address has been added to our database as a target when we attack should Trump not concede the election."
The anonymous author went on to say Kelly should hope her home insurance has fire coverage.
"I was very taken aback," Kelly said.
Milford police said the same letter was mailed to other homes that have signs supporting Trump's presidential campaign. The department is now investigating and has contacted the state Attorney General's Office.
"This is my home," Kelly said. "You're not supposed to threaten my home. I'm very worried in the sense that this is going on in my town."
Two people in Brookline have also received a letter.
"I was kind of quite shocked that anyone would send a letter out with that type of threat," said Brookline police Chief Bill Quigley.
Quigley said he alerted the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and said whoever is behind the letters could face serious charges.
"Not only with us, with criminal threatening," Quigley said. "It's on a felony level, because of the threat of burning homes down and causing injury, but it could also be with the postal inspectors, something on the federal level."
Kelly, who asked to go by her first name alone, received one of these letters. "This is my home," Kelly said. "You're not supposed to threaten my home. I'm very worried in the sense that this is going on in my town."https://t.co/sQYMBf3jlE
Biden supporters are leaving threatening letters in Trump supporters' mailboxes saying they'll burn people's houses down if Trump doesn't concede the election.
Who's to say no one will be home? They're alluding to burning Trump supporters to alive here.
Residents in at least two New Hampshire communities have received anonymous letters threatening to burn down their homes because their yards contain signs supporting President Donald Trump, authorities said. ...https://t.co/B2UoHMhLcOpic.twitter.com/prE6hobwus
Reports of anonymous letters threatening to burn down the homes of Trump supporters are surfacing in Kansas and in New Hampshire.
Radio host Todd Starnes reported that “someone is targeting Trump supporters in the suburbs surrounding Kansas City.” Anonymous letters threatening to set fire to their homes should Trump not concede the election have been left with a number of residents.
An image of the letter was posted on social media by Matt Schlapp of the American Conservative Union.
The exact same letter was delivered to pro-Trump residents in Milford and Brookline, New Hampshire.
Kelly, who asked to go by her first name alone, received one of these letters. "This is my home," Kelly said. "You're not supposed to threaten my home. I'm very worried in the sense that this is going on in my town."
The police are investigating in both NH towns and have contacted the U.S. Postal Service and the state Attorney General’s office.
"I was kind of quite shocked that anyone would send a letter out with that type of threat," said Brookline Police Chief Bill Quigley, as whoever sent the letters could face serious charges.
"Not only with us, with criminal threatening," Quigley said. "It's on a felony level, because of the threat of burning homes down and causing injury, but it could also be with the postal inspectors, something on the federal level."
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