St. Clair Shores man accused of attempting to assault Kamala Harris volunteers

MOUNT CLEMENS, MI (FOX 2) – A 55-year-old man has been charged with trying to attack volunteers handing out presidential campaign materials and making threats based on sexual orientation.

Jason Lynch Lafond has been charged by the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office with three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, a four-year felony, and three counts of ethnic intimidation, a two-year felony.

On October 12, investigators say Lafond went to a tent in the VFW parking lot on Jefferson Avenue looking for campaign materials about former President Donald Trump’s October 12 issue.

A volunteer told him it was the day for Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign materials. This allegedly led to Lafond shouting derogatory insults, including comments about sexual orientation. He went on to say that if Trump wins, he will “exterminate” people like them.

Lafond returned to his vehicle and accelerated toward volunteers, who had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit. Lafond then fled the scene.

St. Clair Shores police identified the man after an investigation.

“This alleged attack was not only an attack on the victims, it was an attack on the victims’ rights to express themselves freely and safely, and impacts our entire community,” prosecutor Pete Lucido said in a news release. “Acts of violence, assault or intimidation based on someone’s identity have no place here. It threatens our democracy and the exercise of freedom of expression in fair and secure elections.”

On Thursday, Lafond was granted a $50,000 personal bond in St. Clair Shores District Court.

Lafond was ordered to have no contact with victims or witnesses and was required to wear a GPS tether. His next hearing is scheduled for November 8

Lucido’s office said proving an allegation of ethnic intimidation depends on three key elements:

• The suspect must have threatened physical harm to the victim, or threatened to damage the victim’s property in a manner that appeared credible.
• There must have been a justifiable reason for the suspect’s actions. Finally, prosecutors must prove that the suspect acted out of bias and specifically targeted the victim because of his race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
• An assault charge may consist of proving that the suspect took action that would cause a reasonable person to fear immediate harm.