(CBS DETROIT) — A 61-year-old Farmington Hills man faces multiple criminal charges after he allegedly assaulted a female postal carrier Thursday evening upon receiving a flyer in the mail featuring Vice President Kamala Harris.
Investigators say Russell Frank Valleau was allegedly upset about receiving the particular piece of mail and told the postal carrier that he did not want that “Black b****” in his mailbox. He’s accused of yelling derogatory, racist and sexual remarks about Harris and the carrier, calling the postal carrier a “Black b****” and lunging at her with a knife.
The postal carrier used pepper spray on Valleau to stop the attack. Farmington Hills police later arrested him in a neighbor’s yard.
“In this highly charged political moment, everyone has a right to their political opinion and vote. Whatever our political beliefs, no one should be assaulted or threatened because of their race, or for doing their job. Hate crimes impact all of us, and we will vigorously pursue all such cases,” Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said.