Police Say Man Vowed to ‘Cleanse the Earth’ of President Trump

A West Virginia man who allegedly said he wanted to “cleanse the earth from people like Donald Trump” was considered a “credible threat” by local officials in his community, including the mayor, whom authorities say he also targeted.

Christopher Curtis, 44, has been charged with threats of terroristic acts after allegedly making remarks this week about the president and Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco, according to The Inter-Mountain.

According to a criminal complaint cited by the local outlet, Curtis was dismissed from his job with the City Water Department on Wednesday, July 8, and then “began making threats” directed at Marco and Trump. Witnesses reportedly heard the remarks and observed Curtis motioning with a pipe wrench as though “he was splitting the president’s head open,” the complaint states.

Officials have not said what led to Curtis being fired.

“I was put on this earth to help cleanse the earth from people like Donald Trump,” Curtis allegedly said. Local CBS affiliate WDTV reported that Curtis, while referring to the president’s head, allegedly said he would “split it open” and called Marco a “marked man” as he shouted “profanities and threats.”

The alleged threats prompted authorities to place all city offices on lockdown.

“The mayor and his staff deemed the defendant to be a credible threat to the City of Elkins employees,” the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.

Multiple statements were taken from witnesses about what Curtis was doing and saying, according to the sheriff’s office. He was arrested around 2 p.m. Wednesday after leaving the fire department.

“An emergency ping was also placed upon the defendant’s cellphone in an attempt to locate him,” the RCSO release says.

Curtis pleaded not guilty, according to online records. He is due to appear in court on July 14 for a preliminary hearing.