The Iowa State Patrol recently arrested a Stuart man following an alleged voicemail he left for Governor Kim Reynolds. 

Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Alex Dinkla says 48-year-old Harvey Eugene Hunter was arrested Wednesday and charged with first-degree harassment for a January voicemail to the governor. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio that even though Reynolds is a public figure, law enforcement takes threats of this nature very seriously and that Hunter crossed a line in his message.

“Anybody that is out in the public eye, we understand that there’s going to be people that are not always happy on either side. When we look at somebody that wants to do threats of this nature. It doesn’t matter who you are. These threats are not going to be tolerated. We’re not going to have this type of environment, and that’s why the Iowa State Patrol chose to charge harassment in the first degree.”

Dinkla adds that the choice of charges shows the severity of the message.

“Harassment in the first degree is a serious offense, a serious charge. When you look at first-degree harassment, that’s threatening someone with committing to do some forcible felonies. That’s a serious offense, and we’re not going to charge somebody with that lightly. When we feel we need to do that charge, it’s obviously somebody that’s crossed the line.”

Sergeant Dinkla says when the State Patrol looks at these types of messages, they allow people to speak and freely express their opinions and exercise freedom of speech, but direct threats and intimidation tactics to cause fear will dictate when charges are filed. He points out that these types of charges are not out of the ordinary and happen with not only the governor’s office, but other members of the state legislature as well.

Hunter was released on a $2,000 bond and entered a not guilty plea in court Wednesday. Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.