CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police charged a man accused of threatening a campaign worker at a polling place in Steele Creek Wednesday.
CMPD said officers responded to an early voting location on South Tryon Street about an armed suspect threatening a man around 2:30 P.M. The victim, an African-American man, told police he was working at the polls when he saw the suspect in the parking lot with a camera.
When the worker approached the suspect, identified as 28-year-old Jason Donald Wayne, police said Wayne uttered racial slurs toward the worker and threatened to assault him -- showing a handgun. The gun was later determined to be a BB gun and was seized as evidence.
Wayne was arrested a little after 9 p.m. Thursday. He is charged with going armed to the terror of the people, ethnic intimidation, communicating threats and disorderly conduct. CMPD said the FBI is involved in the investigation to determine whether federal charges are appropriate. Two people who were with Wayne have not been charged in connection with the incident.
CMPD said officers will conduct scheduled zone checks at all polling locations through the election on November 6.
