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MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. (FOX 2) – A 55-year-old man has been accused of trying to run over volunteers distributing presidential campaign materials and making threats directed at sexual orientation.

Jason Lynch Lafond has been charged with three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, a four-year felony, and three counts of ethnic intimidation, a two-year felony, by the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office.

On October 12, investigators say Lafond went to a tent in the VFW parking lot on Jefferson Avenue looking for campaign materials about former President Donald Trump on October 12.

A volunteer told him it was Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign material day. This allegedly led to Lafond yelling derogatory slurs, including those directed at sexual orientation. He also said that when Trump wins, he will “exterminate” people like them.

Lafond returned to his vehicle and accelerated toward the volunteers, who had to move out of the way to avoid being hit. Lafond then fled the scene.

The St. Clair Shores Police Department identified the man after an investigation.

“This alleged assault was not just an assault on the victims, it was an assault on the victims’ rights to express themselves freely and safely, and it affects our entire community,” prosecutor Pete Lucido said in a statement. “Acts of violence, assault or harassment based on someone’s identity have no place here. It threatens our democracy and the exercise of freedom of expression in fair and secure elections.”

On Thursday, Lafond was granted a $50,000 personal bond in St. Clair Shores District Court.

Lafond was ordered to have no contact with victims or witnesses and was required to wear a GPS strap. His next hearing is scheduled for November 8.

Lucido’s office said proving a charge of ethnic intimidation depends on three key elements:

• The defendant must have threatened to physically harm the victim or threatened to damage the victim’s property in a way that appeared credible.
• The defendant’s actions must have lacked any justifiable motive. Finally, prosecutors must show that the defendant acted without prejudice, attacking the victim specifically because of his or her race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
• An assault charge may include a showing that the defendant took an action that would cause a reasonable person to fear immediate harm.