Crime & Safety

Ex-Cop Threatened President Trump Before Nashville Visit: Feds

Federal prosecutors say a former Bowling Green police officer now living in Greenbrier posted threatening messages about the president.

NASHVILLE, TN -- A former Bowling Green, Ky police officer now living in Greenbrier, Tenn. posted "concerning" messages about President Donald Trump, federal prosecutors say.

A federal grand jury indicted Andrew Long Ryan, 37, on two counts of threatening the president after he allegedly made two social media posts ahead of Trump's visit to Nashville in May.

According to the indictment, Ryan wrote "Death is coming" on Facebook and, more directly, "I will kill Donald Trump if you don't follow my leaders lead" on Twitter on May 28 and 29; Trump held a rally at Nashville's Municipal Auditorium May 29.

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Robertson County Sheriff's deputies arrested Ryan earlier this month for allegedly violating a restraining order taken out by his family, who claim Ryan put "in fear for their safety" as his behavior became more erratic and his mental state "declined" over the last several months.

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On Feb. 14, according to the indictment, police officers in Ryan's hometown of Greenbrier, 30 miles north of Nashville, seized several firearms from his home. The indictment says law enforcement officers "expressed concern that Ryan's behavior would escalate into an act of mass violence."

The United States Secret Service is investigating the case.

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