Federal charges dismissed against Bend man on threats to kill Pa. police chief, officers

(Update: Charges dismissed in late 2021)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — FBI agents arrested a 43-year-old man at his Bend home in early 2019 on a charge he sent an email threatening to kill a Pennsylvania police chief and earlier threatened in tips sent to the FBI to kill other police officers “as leaders of terrorist organizations.”

But a federal judge agreed in December 2021 to a request by prosecutors to dismiss the charges after they said Truchanowicz met the terms of a pretrial diversion agreement.

Earlier story:

FBI agents arrested Gregory Truchanowicz on Monday without incident at his Bend home on one count of sending a threatening communication, Oregon FBI spokeswoman Beth Anne Steele said.

A federal criminal complaint alleged that Truchanowicz sent an email to the Erie, Pennsylvania police chief on Jan. 14 that read in part: “It IS my job to kill you and any/all of your subordinates as I swore an oath to defend America from you, domestic enemies of the constitution. I_must_stand by this oath.”

The complaint further alleged that last October and November, Truchanowicz submitted two online tips to the FBI, saying that authorities in Pennsylvania had arranged for skinhead gang members to assault him, causing him to flee that state.

In one instance, he wrote of the police officers: “…it is my duty as a professional soldier to kill them as leaders of terrorist organizations.” The complaint says that in another tip, Truchanowicz wrote, “I’ve decided to declare civil war against police for their crimes.”

An FBI agent’s affidavit filed with the complaint said Truchanowicz submitted an online tip to the FBI last Oct. 18, saying he’d written to the police chiefs in Millcreek and Erie, Pennsylvania, claiming “it is my duty as a professional soldier to kill them as leaders of terrorist organizations and banned them and their subordinates from Oregon with intent to kill them on sight. Their terrorism destroyed my family, they drew first blood. Don’t wait for me to do my job, do yours instead.”

The agent said Truchanowicz provided his address in Bend, email address and phone number to the FBI. A week later, two FBI special agents visited his home “and admonished him not to threaten other people,” the affidavit said. Truchanowicz said he was under VA care in Bend.

Truchanowicz tried to buy a 9mm pistol at the Sportsman’s Warehouse last Nov. 17. the FBI agent said, but the transaction failed because Pennsylvania authorities had in 2017 put a three-year protective order in place which prohibited his possession or purchase of a firearm.

An Oregon State Police trooper talked to Truchanowicz about the attempted purchase and he “said he wanted to shoot raccoons on his property and had a right to protect himself,” the FBI affidavit stated, also saying he’d moved to Oregon “to get away from ‘oppressive law enforcement in Pennsylvania.'”

On Nov. 20, the affidavit said, Truchanowicz emailed the OSP and said since his application for a firearm was delayed, “a biker friend with a devil tattoo offered me a police issue .38 special with the serial number ground off and a box of ammunition. I no longer require your approval or controlled weapon for self-defense. I have the right to defend myself and will do so by any means necessary.”

Nine days later, an OSP trooper called Truchanowicz by phone about the attempted firearm purchase and he said he had PTSD and provided details of his VA treatment. He also said he did not remember sending the email and not accept the offered “.38 sppecial handgun … but could acquire a weapon if needed,” also saying he “trained in hand-to-hand combat five to six hours a day.”

The next day, Truchanowicz submitted another online tip to the FBI, which said he “came here and tried to get a firearm to defend myself from known terrorism and hit men with indisputable proof.”

And he said he’d written to his mother and said “I’ve decided to declare civil war against police for their crimes. I have a God-sworn obligation to defend the constitution. By the time you read this, I may be dead. I won’t run any more; I won’t back down.”

Four days after the Jan. 14 email to the Erie, Pennsylvania police chief, two FBI agents again interviewed Truchanowicz, who “at first said he did not remember sending the email,” but then said he did recall it as it was read to him.

Truchanowicz made his initial appearance before a federal magistrate judge in Eugene on Tuesday, Steele said. The judge ordered him detained, pending future court proceedings.

Steele said the FBI takes threats of violence seriously and encourages members of the public to report information about such threats by calling their nearest FBI office or by submitting information online at https://tips.fbi.gov. If a person fears for their immediate safety, they should call 911.