This is not a discussion/question related to firearms, but I have come to a dead end and am turning to you guys because I know you are all pretty law savvy.
A few weeks ago, on a Saturday, a co-worker almost got in to a fight with a customer. The manager told him to leave, but he wouldn't, so the boss fired him. The co-worker went crazy! He was destroying property and he got in everybody's face and told us what he was going to do to us. For example, he told me that he "was going to come back on Monday and kick my a$% after work" and that "we better higher security" because he's "coming back for all of us." I laughed more than anything but I didn't even do anything!
We called the police and the manager decided not to press charges for destroying our property or for refusing to leave, but I asked about pressing charges for threatening me. Even though I wasn't intimidated, I'm not going to sit idly by while this guy comes back that following Monday to make good on what he said he would do.
The police told us that threatening us, face to face, is not illegal. The only way they can arrest him for threatening me was if he did it over the phone.
From what I've discovered, there are specific laws prohibiting threats made over a telephone. I could only find one law that he could've been arrested on, and that is pretty much yelling and cursing in a manner that disturbs the peace, a Class 3 Misdemeanor.
I guess what I'm asking is for anyone with knowledge of these laws to tell me that there are or there aren't laws prohibiting verbal threats made in person. I've sent emails to my state senator and house representative about this situation, but have only heard back from my state senator (and she was just asking for clarification).
I'm pushing this issue because in this day in age, we can't afford to be reactionary. When people tell you they're going to harm you, even though they're some snot nosed punk, you have to pay attention. People are getting shot at churches and malls now!
Thanks in advance for any help.
(p.s. The guy was arrested the following weekend. A local mechanic was working on his car, and when he went to pick it up, he asked if he could take it for a test drive and never returned to pay the mechanic.)
A few weeks ago, on a Saturday, a co-worker almost got in to a fight with a customer. The manager told him to leave, but he wouldn't, so the boss fired him. The co-worker went crazy! He was destroying property and he got in everybody's face and told us what he was going to do to us. For example, he told me that he "was going to come back on Monday and kick my a$% after work" and that "we better higher security" because he's "coming back for all of us." I laughed more than anything but I didn't even do anything!
We called the police and the manager decided not to press charges for destroying our property or for refusing to leave, but I asked about pressing charges for threatening me. Even though I wasn't intimidated, I'm not going to sit idly by while this guy comes back that following Monday to make good on what he said he would do.
The police told us that threatening us, face to face, is not illegal. The only way they can arrest him for threatening me was if he did it over the phone.
From what I've discovered, there are specific laws prohibiting threats made over a telephone. I could only find one law that he could've been arrested on, and that is pretty much yelling and cursing in a manner that disturbs the peace, a Class 3 Misdemeanor.
I guess what I'm asking is for anyone with knowledge of these laws to tell me that there are or there aren't laws prohibiting verbal threats made in person. I've sent emails to my state senator and house representative about this situation, but have only heard back from my state senator (and she was just asking for clarification).
I'm pushing this issue because in this day in age, we can't afford to be reactionary. When people tell you they're going to harm you, even though they're some snot nosed punk, you have to pay attention. People are getting shot at churches and malls now!
Thanks in advance for any help.
(p.s. The guy was arrested the following weekend. A local mechanic was working on his car, and when he went to pick it up, he asked if he could take it for a test drive and never returned to pay the mechanic.)