A 27-year-old man is behind bars, accused of threatening Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez in a series of racist voicemails. Ramirez spoke exclusively to NBC 5 about the chilling messages and the arrest that followed.
A Tarrant County man is behind bars after being accused of threatening the life of a member of the Tarrant County Commissioners Court.
Fort Worth police say 27-year-old Dylan Lofton left Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez a series of voicemails using racist language and threatening to kill him.
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WATCH HERE“Really shocking to get death threats in the middle of the night,” said Ramirez, the commissioner for Precinct 4.
Just before 4 a.m. on Wednesday, Ramirez received an urgent message from his staff stating that a man had called his office multiple times.
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SIGN UP “There was racially charged language,” said Ramirez. “Obviously racial slurs.”
In an arrest affidavit, Fort Worth police said the caller left Ramirez three voicemails containing racial slurs and threats.
NBC 5 reviewed the messages, which were too graphic to air.
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"I'll f-- blow your a- up,” the caller said in one message. “Do you f-- understand, Manny?"
Ramirez called Fort Worth police and reported the messages.
On Friday, the department's Homeland Security Unit arrested Dylan Lofton, charging him with making a terroristic threat against a public servant.
Arrest documents showed investigators traced the number that left the messages to Lofton's apartment in Arlington. When they knocked on the door, Lofton's Irish accent matched the voice heard on the phone.
The documents said family members told police Lofton had recently struggled with substance abuse issues and believed himself to be Irish, often speaking with an Irish accent.
“You know, threatening my family, threatening myself, it's just, it's become disgusting, the level of rhetoric that's out there now,” said Ramirez. “And I served as a police officer for 15 years, so I know exactly how quickly threats of violence turn into violence.”
Ramirez said he'd never met Lofton before receiving the messages.
The State Bar of Texas website listed Lofton as a licensed attorney in Fort Worth. In a 2017 article, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram identified Lofton as a precinct chair coordinator with the Tarrant County Democrats.
Ramirez said, for the moment, he didn't know if politics played a role in the threats. He thanked Fort Worth and Tarrant County law enforcement for swiftly preventing violence.
“I hope that there's an awareness out there that the level of rhetoric and the level of violent threats is growing, and it's unacceptable,” said Ramirez.
Lofton is being held on a $100,000 bond and has no listed defense attorney as of Monday night. We reached out to his listed phone number but have not heard back.
NBC 5 also contacted the Tarrant County Democrats to ask if Lofton currently serves with the organization.
In a statement on Tuesday, Tarrant County Democratic Party Chair Crystal Gayden said the following:
“We at the Tarrant County Democratic Party are deeply concerned about reports of threats made against Tarrant County Commissioner Manny Ramirez. Threats of violence have no place in our community, and we strongly condemn any form of political intimidation. Our thoughts are with Commissioner Ramirez and all those impacted."
"Records indicate that the individual involved has not been affiliated with the Tarrant County Democratic Party office since 2019. Additionally, there are reports that this individual may be experiencing significant mental health challenges. This situation underscores the urgent need for greater access to mental health resources and support in our community."
"We encourage everyone to engage in respectful dialogue and to seek help for those who may be struggling. Together, we can foster a safer, more compassionate community for all.”
