Hastings man accused of threatening to kill an officer, repeatedly texting a civilian worker

A Hastings man has been charged after he allegedly threatened to kill an officer after his phone was seized during the execution of a search warrant.

Nathan Ray Justice, 30, faces one count of threatening violence and faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 if convicted.

According to a criminal complaint, Justice Department’s phone was seized during the execution of a search warrant in August. The phone was sent to the Electronic Crimes Unit for forensic examination.

Justice began emailing and texting the Hastings Police Department’s deputy chief on his phone and was told it would take several weeks to process.

Court documents show that Justice’s messages became increasingly profane. On October 22, he called the deputy chief and threatened to kill her. He kept calling her.

Justice also called a civilian employee of the Electronic Crimes Unit, and authorities are unsure how he got to her direct line. He was allegedly profane and demanded his phone back.

He has since left another profane voicemail and contacted the employee on her private LinkedIn.

More recently, court documents show Justice tagged the city of Hastings in several Facebook posts, saying it “didn’t have to come to this” and that he was “on his way.”