Man arrested for threatening cops in YouTube comments

DENVER — FBI agents on Monday arrested a military veteran after Google warned he threatened to kill police officers via postings on YouTube videos.

Jeremiah Perez was arrested at his home in Colorado Springs, Colo. after investigators said they tracked the comments back to his computer. FBI agents said Perez, 33, admitted making the comments, and said he was upset and frustrated with police officers due to unspecified past incidents connected to his Latino heritage.

Written by the user "Vets Hunting Cops," one comment on Google-owned YouTube said "not a single cop is good," and "they are all bad and are all targets now." The user also claimed his group had killed six retired sheriffs and cops, and was going to "hunt" two Colorado police officers. The posts began in mid-December, and Perez said he became more antagonistic after the death of Michael Brown at the hands of a police officer in Ferguson, Mo., the FBI said.

Wrote the FBI in the criminal complaint: "Perez stated that he was going to continue posting the antagonizing comments until law enforcement intervened...he knew that law enforcement officers would see the post and his intent was for them to be fearful after reading the post."

Perez served in the U.S. military but prosecutors have not yet confirmed the branch or his role. Perez also admitted to performing Internet searches about killing politicians, police officers and Fox News commentators.

If convicted, Perez faces up to five years in federal prison, and not more than a $250,000 fine, for transmitting a threat in interstate and foreign commerce.

"If you threaten to kill – or incite others to kill – police officers, you will get some very serious attention from this office, the FBI, and other appropriate authorities," said U.S. Attorney John Walsh.

Perez's arrest comes just days after two New York City police officers were shot dead in their patrol car. Investigators believe the man who shot them posted his intentions on an Instagram account before acting, apparently posting threats that showed a desire for revenge in the deaths of Eric Garner in Staten Island, N.Y. and Michael Brown.

At a press conference that night, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton pleaded with the public to report any threats made against police officers.

Perez is being held in federal custody pending a preliminary hearing Dec. 29.