CBS 5 - KPHO TN man arrested in death threat against Sheriff Arpaio

TN man arrested in death threat against Sheriff Arpaio

Authorities said they've arrested the prime suspect in an Internet death threat against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Deputies in Knoxville, TN, issued a search warrant Monday at the home of Adam Eugene Cox, 33. Sheriff's deputies tell us they pinpointed his location after serving a search warrant at Google headquarters in California and locating the IP address behind the threat.

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said in a October 2011 threat, Cox said Sheriff Arpaio and his family would be killed.

MCSO said the suspect's postings indicate he's an avid supporter of President Barack Obama and that Arpaio's ongoing investigation into the legitimacy of Obama's birth certificate may be behind the threat.

"Every threat will be taken seriously, and the Sheriff knows that his position often attracts threats but he draws the line when his family is threatened," said Deputy Chief David Trombi whose detectives have overseen the threat investigations against Arpaio. "If you look at the actual threat where the suspect talks about filling him full of holes and burying him alongside his family, that's pretty serious."

Trombi said even though the investigation costs taxpayers money, if they don't fully vet the threats, there could be deadly consequences.

"The price we would pay for not investigating this is too costly, and that could be the cost of his life or the cost of his family members," Trombi said.

Cox was taken into custody Friday. According to Knox County Sheriff's deputies, Cox has a history of assault.

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