Man Arrested After Threatening to Kill Reporters

A Waco man who police say threatened two state district judges and television reporters in more than 14 voice mails was arrested.

Cops say the man, Joe Washington,  was unhappy with a ruling in his child custody, made calls to KXXV with threats. 

KXXV employees reported harassing and threatening phone calls to the Waco Police Department on June 15 and contacted the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office on June 24 when the threats became more explicitly aimed at station employees and Menard.

“The revolt starts right there, and it’s coming,” one of the messages said, according to the affidavit. “You’re about to lose some family members.

“I’m going to pray two of your staff’s children die,” Washington reportedly continued. “It’s gonna get ugly.”

Some of the threats included in the affidavit made specific mention of one reporter’s children.

“What if they died? You never know what’s going to happen,” Washington allegedly said.

“Your children die too! Watch this! (Expletive) with my son? (Expletive) your judges! you’re going to find out something. Watch your children die,” he said, according to the affidavit.

Washington reportedly used “spoofed” phone numbers so that it would be more difficult to track.

Washington was arrested on a charge of retaliation on account of service and released the next day after posting a $20,000 bond, jail records show.

H/T Waco Trib