By RYAN SKAITH
A St. Charles man faces felony charges after allegedly posting online threats against Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe and his family, state authorities announced Friday.
42-year old Daniel N. Mertz was taken into custody in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Dec. 19. He has been charged by the Cole County Prosecuting Attorney with one count of first-degree stalking and one count of first-degree harassment, both class E felonies.
The investigation began Dec. 16 when the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control was alerted to threatening and harassing statements on Facebook. Investigators identified several posts made between Dec. 1 and Dec. 18 under the profile name “Danny Mertz.”
Working with the Missouri Information and Analysis Center, investigators linked the account to Mertz and developed probable cause for his arrest.
Mertz was apprehended by Daytona Beach police and officers from Operation Relentless Pursuit. Authorities said Mertz was in possession of a loaded firearm at the time of his arrest.
Mertz is being held without bond at the Volusia County Jail in Florida. Missouri officials have started the extradition process to return him to the state for arraignment.