JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville man has been arrested and charged with making felony threats after allegedly posting online that he would drive a tow truck into any protesters opposing immigration enforcement policies.
Zachary Degross, 26, was taken into custody Wednesday by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) after detectives received multiple tips about a violent message he allegedly posted on social media targeting demonstrators in the area.
Degross is accused of using the platform X (formerly Twitter) to issue a threat saying he would “plow through every ignant, un-American swine” protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations or President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. The message was posted under the pseudonym “boostedass_240” and responded to a general post asking if Florida was prepared for potential protests.
In the threatening post, Degross said:
“Look as [a] Jacksonville resident if I see any large gatherings to protest ICE, I’m going to grab my buddy’s tow truck and plow through every ignant, un-American swine I see protestong [sic] the deportation of ILLEGAL immigrants.”
The post concluded with:
“Since you believe in them so much, why don’t you go with [them].”
JSO confirmed on its official Facebook page that officers arrested Degross after conducting an interview with him Wednesday afternoon. The department emphasized the seriousness of online threats:
“Making a threat like the one Degross made is a felony. If you are making threats online to harm others—even if you don’t intend to follow through—we will arrest you.”
The arrest comes amid a wave of national protests against immigration crackdowns and deportation policies. While demonstrations in Jacksonville have remained relatively small, law enforcement in North Florida remains on heightened alert due to unrest seen in major cities like Los Angeles, New York City, and Dallas, where large-scale protests and clashes with authorities have occurred.
JSO added that it is actively monitoring threats and demonstrations to ensure public safety:
“We take every threat incredibly seriously. If you see a threat online about harming others, report it to us immediately. We will continue to work hard to protect everyone in Jacksonville.”
Degross is currently being held on a felony charge related to making terroristic threats.
