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Hancock man arrested, charged with making terrorist threats

Jared A. Cubbage, 23, of Hancock was arrested on Friday, March 11 and charged with making terrorist threats following a series of harassing and threatening texts he allegedly sent in February.

In the texts, he allegedly threatened to “kill cops” and create “a small town tragedy.” Multiple threats were outlined in the criminal complaint against Cubbage.

Cubbage reportedly ranted, “I am the law” and “I declare war on the people” in a chilling sequence of violent and threatening text messages in which he referred to himself as “a machine.”

According to a criminal complaint filed in Morgan County Magistrate Court by Sgt. Scott Lemon with the Morgan County Sherriff’s Office, police responded to a 911 call from Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center on Sand Mine Road about a past verbal domestic disturbance.

The victim had obtained a protective order against Cubbage, who reportedly continually motioned like he was shooting her during custody exchanges, and allegedly sent harassing and threatening texts.

“These threats appear terroristic in nature, in that they appear to follow a course of action seen in news media covering past terroristic acts,” said Lemon in the criminal complaint. He noted Cubbage is an experienced rifle hunter.

Cubbage was released on a $75,000 bond and is awaiting a hearing in the matter.