A 42-year-old St. Charles man has been charged after investigators say he posted online threats targeting Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe and members of the governor’s family.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol says threats were posted on Facebook between December 1 and December 18 under the name “Danny Mertz.” Authorities identified Daniel N. Mertz as the account owner and linked him to the posts through a joint effort with the Missouri Information and Analysis Center.
On December 19, Cole County Prosecuting Attorney Locke Thompson charged Mertz with one count of first-degree stalking and one count of first-degree harassment, both Class E felonies.
An arrest warrant was issued nationwide, and Mertz was detained in Daytona Beach, Florida, by Daytona Beach police after coordination with Operation Relentless Pursuit.
He’s being held without bond in Volusia County, as Missouri begins extradition for arraignment back home.