Alleged Threats Against Mark Sanchez Investigated

Published on January 30, 2013

Acting Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp and Chief Patrick Montoure of the Florham Park Police Department announce the commencement of an investigation into the receipt of alleged threatening comments directed via electronic communications to Mark Sanchez, a professional football player employed by the New York Jets. The team's headquarters and practice facilities are located in Florham Park, New Jersey, within the County of Morris.

On December 18, 2012, information was provided to the Florham Park Police Department by security personnel of the New York Jets and the National Football League (NFL) that Sanchez had received a series of threatening comments that were sent to a Twitter account from the Twitter account bearing the user name @bravegrancru. A joint investigation was immediately launched by the Office of the Morris County Prosecutor and the Florham Park Police Department. All relevant witnesses were identified and interviewed.

The police investigation identified the source of the electronic messages and he was located and interviewed by the police on the evening of December 18, 2012. The investigation revealed that the source of the electronic messages was a fugitive, having failed to appear for court in the Municipal Court of Seaside Heights, New Jersey. The appropriate personnel from that jurisdiction were notified and it was confirmed that a bench warrant had been issued for Eddie Maye, date of birth July 20, 1987, a resident of Newark, New Jersey. He was taken into custody on the warrant, and he subsequently was released on bail in the amount of $750, which had been set by the Municipal Court of Seaside Heights, New Jersey.

Acting Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp stated, "This investigation should stand as an example that I as the chief law enforcement official of Morris County shall ensure that the Office of the Morris County Prosecutor and every member of the law enforcement community of Morris County shall swiftly and completely investigate any threat of violence, especially those where the threatened use of a firearm is present. It does not matter who the victim is. Any such allegations will be thoroughly investigated with all commensurate law enforcement resources so that no member of the community is put at risk. We will now examine the results of the investigation so as to determine if any violations of the criminal law of New Jersey has occurred based on those findings. Members of my legal staff shall be examining the evidence to determine if the actions taken rise to a level of purposeful conduct, a necessary requisite to prove the crime of Terroristic Threats as defined by N.J.S.A. 2C:12-3."

This is an ongoing investigation. We release these details and ask for the public's assistance in providing any information that may be relevant to this investigation.

Acting Prosecutor Knapp thanked members of the Morris County Prosecutor Tactical Division, the Florham Park Police Department, the South River Police Department, the Seaside Heights Police Department, the National Football League and the New York Jets football organization for the cooperation and professionalism displayed in conducting this investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Morris County Prosecutors Office Major Crime Unit at (973) 285 6200, the Florham park Police Department at (973) 377-2200 or the Morris County Sheriffs Office Crime Stopper Program at (973) COPCALL.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DEFENDANT IS PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY, AND THAT ANY CRIMINAL ALLEGATIONS MUST BE PROVEN BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT.