Man Who Threatened Police Over Facebook Was Arrested At Gunpoint

Racine, WI — The man who reportedly threatened white police officers in the City of Racine within 24 hours of the Dallas police shootings has been charged with a hate crime.

Byron Cowan, 43, of Racine, faces charges of solicitation of threat to law enforcement officers as a hate crime, terrorist threats as a hate crime and disorderly conduct.

If convicted, Cowan faces four and a half years in prison on the hate crime charges and an additional 90 days in jail on the disorderly conduct charge.

Cowan faces additional time behind bars because he was charged with a hate crime, according to his criminal complaint.

According to Cowan's criminal complaint, the department became aware that Cowan was posing threats on social media, calling for violence against white officers and their families.

Upon investigation, police were able to determine that Cowan was responsible for the threats that were posted — and then disseminated and shared by other users — on Facebook.

According to police, one of the threats included the following: "Be first to shoot first. I encourage every Black man in America to strap up. It is clear. I encourage every white officer to kiss there love ones goodbye. Every time you leave the house. Tell them you love them; because you may not make it home. Also if you do make it home. You may find there dead bodies sprawled all over the house. This is war were tired. I don't care who I offend I don't have any more words but bullets. It's time to start going into there homes and killing there families. Not (expletive) playing or smiling."

Upon further investigation, police found more posts that included the following, "If you don't know how to properly use a gun, I will teach you," and "Change only through war and destruction. You kill our children, we return the favor, shoot first."

According to the complaint, police learned that Cowan was a Racine resident and approached his home at approximately 1:30 on July 7.

Officers from Racine and Mount Pleasant representing the Gang Task Force located Cowan driving his vehicle along the 1300 block of Grove Avenue, the complaint said.

Police directed Cowan to the ground at gunpoint after he exited his vehicle, police said.

Upon his arrest, he admitted to making the aforementioned posts and had indicated he has more than 5,000 friends on Facebook.

Cowan is being held in the Racine County Jail on a $75,000 cash bond.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 20 in Racine County Circuit Court, according to online court records.