BUFFALO, N.Y. — A North Carolina man is facing several charges for allegedly making several threatening phone calls to Buffalo Police officers.
Ryan Johnston, 38, of Lenoir, North Carolina, is accused of knowingly and willfully transmit in interstate commerce, communications, that is telephone calls, which contained threats to injure the person of another, in violation of Title 18 US Code 875(c).
According to a criminal complaint, Johnston. contacted members of the Buffalo Police Department C-District beginning August 18, 2023. In the complaint, it states a Buffalo Police officer received a call from a person who identified themselves as Ryan Johnston. Investigators say Johnston became angry during the call and said he would kill employees, including staff and law enforcement officers. He is also accused of making racist comments. He made more than 50 calls to the precinct over the course of several hours.
The FBI is investigating the incident. Retired FBI Agent, Bernie Tolbert explains why they're involved.
"It involves crimes that occurred across states. The police in North Carolina have no jurisdiction in New York State. Police in Buffalo have no jurisdiction in Carolina. Police in North Carolina have the things that they're working on," Tolbert says.
On August 26, 2023, Johnston is accused of making more calls to the Buffalo Police B-District station, where he allegedly threatened her would come to Buffalo and "F&*k officers up".
Johnston appeared in Federal Court in North Carolina on Tuesday. He will be returned to the Western District of New York at a later date.
"This is a violation of section 875 of title 18 and within that section C, it says that you're subject to five years in jail and/or fine or both. So, that's what this particular person would be facing," Tolbert says.