FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. — A Michigan man is facing charges after allegedly attacking a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier with a knife while shouting racist and sexist insults, according to police. The incident occurred on Thursday in Farmington Hills, about 25 miles northwest of Detroit.
Police responded to a 911 call around 5 p.m. from the mail carrier, who reported that a man, later identified as 61-year-old Russell Valleau, had approached her delivery vehicle while holding a knife. The postal worker told police the man appeared intoxicated and was angry about receiving political ads in the mail.
“The defendant was allegedly upset that he had received mail regarding presidential candidate Kamala Harris and allegedly said that he did not want that ‘black b—-‘ in his mailbox,” according to a statement. “He then called the mail carrier a ‘black b—-‘ and threatened the carrier.”
According to a police statement, Valleau was upset that the mail carrier had delivered political campaign ads for Vice President Kamala Harris. Officers said the suspect hurled racist, sexual, and derogatory remarks about both Harris and the mail carrier during the encounter.
Valleau was arrested at the scene. The mail carrier, whose name has not been released, was not injured. The investigation is ongoing, and charges are expected to be filed.