Detroit Police have arrested five people in connection with the death threat against Detroit Police Chief James Craig, according to Fox 2's Erika Erickson.
The five people have been arrested on unrelated charges, but Craig tells Erickson they are believed to have a connection to the source of the threat. The five people do not face charges for the threat.
Chief Craig says the department is in contact with authorities in Los Angeles, as the persons of interest are believed to have a connection there.
Craig has said it's the first time in almost 40 years in law enforcement that his life has been threatened, as he restates to Fox:
"I often times talk about good community folks coming up and praising the that work we're doing, the difference that we're making in the neighborhoods, but for those who are involved in criminal behavior to be angry and upset over the work we're doing right now is also a badge of honor. As I said last week, I'll say it again today - I will continue. We will continue to make this one of the safest big cities in America. We will not be deterred," he says.
When news of the assassination threat surfaced Saturday night, Craig was angry and defiant. The threat -- "We need to clap him out" -- came via social media, apparently from a drug dealer.
"This reinforces what we do,” Craig said at a media briefing. “I’m the people’s police chief. The people want me to do this.”
He was referring to mass arrests in five anti-drug sweeps since November.
The chief, who took office last June, looked into news cameras as he voiced a message for whoever posted Friday's warning with a handgun photo: “We will find you. We’re not backing off.”
Previously on Deadline Detroit:
Update: Detroit Police Chief 'Not Backing Off' Amid Death Threat
