SEATTLE (AP) – A 49-year-old Seattle man has been charged with felony stalking after allegedly committing a hate crime against Rep. Pramila Jayapal and threatening to kill her.
Brett Fussell was indicted on July 27 after police investigators gathered more evidence, the King County Attorney’s Office said.
Forsell was arrested and jailed on July 9 after shouting obscenities and threats outside his Seattle home in Jayapal late at night. He was released when prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence to support the hate crime charges, although authorities noted the investigation would continue.
Police later referred the stalking case for consideration, prosecutors said.
In 2016, Jayapal became the first Indian-American woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Democrats lead the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
As part of the felony stalking charge, prosecutors pointed out that Fussell was armed with a lethal weapon and Jayapal was stalked for his elected office.
Seattle police arrested Forsell at 11:25 p.m. on July 9 outside Jayapal’s home in the Arbor Heights neighborhood after she called 911 and reported one or more unknown persons using obscene language in her neighborhood and bringing up the issue. and her name, the probable cause document said. She told the dispatcher that her husband thought someone might have fired the pellet gun, the statement said.
The probable cause statement said officers found Fussell standing in the street with his hands in the air and a pistol at his waist.
According to the probable cause statement, Forsell told police he drove past Jayapal’s house several times since late June and since July 9 shouting swear words.
He left after meeting her husband and returned shortly after knowing they were at home, the documents said, and that neighbors and Jayapal’s husband saw him approach the house while yelling at Jayapal. A neighbour told police she heard a man threaten to kill Jayapal and believed the statements were from the man who was arrested that night.
Police learned the man sent an email to Jayapal’s public account in January saying he didn’t like her, the documents said.
A temporary extreme risk protection order requiring Forsell to surrender his firearm and concealed handgun license, citing concerns over Jayapal’s escalating behaviour and mental health battle, remains in effect.
A judge granted bail of $500,000, prosecutors said. The Associated Press was unable to find Forsell for comment, nor did it know if he had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf.
Jayapal said in a statement that the King County Attorney’s Office charged Forsell with felony stalking, a sign that the justice system is working.
“I thank the King County Attorney’s Office for holding this man accountable for his risky behavior, the victims’ advocates for their assistance throughout the process, and the Seattle Police Department, the U.S. Capitol Police and the House of Representatives for continuing to secure my The safety of my family, me and my staff,” Jayapal said.
