Byron Cowan
RACINE -- 43-year-old Byron Cowan of Racine waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Wednesday morning, August 3rd.
Cowan is accused of threatening law enforcement on social media ahead of the sniper attack in Dallas, and on the heels of the fatal shootings by police in Louisiana (Alton Sterling) and Minnesota (Philando Castile).
Cowan faces the following charges:
Byron Cowan
The judge on Wednesday found probable cause in the case -- and bound Cowan over for trial.
According to a criminal complaint, Racine police were monitoring social media and observed a post by Cowan on July 7th that read:
Following that post were comments, and Cowan responded to the comments, writing: “If you don’t know how to properly use a gun I will teach you. Strap the (expletive) up, shoot first.”
Police were able to verify that Cowan lived in Racine, and they obtained an address for him.
The complaint indicates Cowan admitted to making the posts on social media, and indicated he has more than 5,000 friends on Facebook.
Cowan is due back in court on Friday, September 16th.