Vancouver man accused of threatening to kill candidate - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Man accused of threatening to kill candidate over junk mail

Posted: Updated: Aug 9, 2012 09:45 PM
By FOX 12 Webstaff - email

  • More news

  • Dan Sligh and his wife were in their pickup truck on Interstate 5 heading to a camping trip when a bridge before them disappeared in a "big puff of dust."
    A truck hauling a too-tall load of drilling equipment hit an overhead bridge girder on the major interstate between Seattle and Canada, sending a section of the span and two vehicles into the Skagit River. All three...

  • A powerful earthquake has hit Russia's Far East with slight tremors spreading westwards as far as Moscow.
    A powerful earthquake on Friday hit Russia's Far East with tremors felt as far away as Moscow, about 7,000 kilometers (4,400 miles) west of the epicenter, but no casualties or damage were reported.

  • Friday, May 24 2013 12:17 PM EDT2013-05-24 16:17:13 GMT
    Carlenilus Keon Sandifer, Ray Centrel Thomas and Kamaluddeen Raheem Russaw (not pictured) are wanted for questioning in a Dothan firearm assault. Photos courtesy Dothan PD.
    Dothan Police are investigating a firearm assault and they need the public's help in locating the suspects. Details are limited , but authorities say that the incident occurred on the 300 block of East
    Dothan Police are investigating a firearm assault and they need the public's help in locating the suspects. Details are limited , but authorities say that the incident occurred on the 300 block of East
    •   
VANCOUVER, WA (KPTV) -

A Vancouver man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of sending threatening emails to a legislative candidate.

Clark County deputies said 50-year-old Gary Owen sent Eileen Qutub, a candidate for the 49th District in Washington state, two different emails threatening to kill her.

"At one point, he was saying he'd sooner put a bullet in my brain then vote for me, or a Republican woman," said Qutub.

Deputies said Owen was upset after he got a campaign flier in the mail back in July, which Qutub sent out to all her constituents in west Vancouver. 

He allegedly sent an email to Qutub on July 21, which reads in part:

"I do not know how you got my name and address but I would rather put a bullet in your stupid pathetic Republican (expletive) brain than vote for you," the email said. "Being a Republican and a woman you have no right ever speaking or having an opinion about anything."

Qutub called Clark County deputies after opening the email, but the problem then became tracking Owen down. 

That is until, deputies said, Owen got another Qutub flier in the mail this August, which allegedly prompted him to send another email.

"I emailed and told you take my name and address off your mailing you stupid ugly Republican (expletive). I would rather kill your (expletive) than vote for you," said the email.  "I will hunt you down and shove your spam junk mail flyer up your (expletive) with a hot poker."

This time, the email included Owen's full name and home address, asking to be pulled off of Qutub's mailing list. But instead, deputies said they used that information to arrest Owen Thursday morning.

"You know, I don't know that he's that person that would really carry through on a threat, but clearly he made a threat to me," said Qutub.

"With the situation with Gabby Giffords, and her open town hall meeting, you just don't want to take any risks," she said.

Owen is set to appear before a Clark County judge Friday morning on suspicion of two counts of malicious harassment.

Copyright KPTV 2012 (Meredith Corporation.) All rights reserved.