A St. Charles County man is facing criminal charges after authorities say he made online threats directed at Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe and members of the governor’s family.
According to investigators, 42-year-old Daniel Mertz is charged with first-degree stalking and first-degree harassment. Officials allege that Mertz posted a series of threatening messages on Facebook over a period spanning from December 1 through December 18.
Law enforcement agencies were able to locate Mertz in Daytona Beach, Florida. He was taken into custody on December 19 following an investigation that led officers out of state. Authorities reported that Mertz was in possession of a loaded firearm at the time of his arrest.
Following his arrest, Mertz was booked into the Volusia County Jail, where he remains in custody. Officials said he is currently awaiting extradition proceedings to be returned to Missouri, where the charges were filed.
Authorities have not released additional details about the content of the alleged posts, but emphasized that threats involving public officials are treated seriously. The case remains under review as legal proceedings move forward.
