Oakland County Prosecutor Charges Troy Man with Hate Crimes Charges for Islamophobic Threats Outside Library

PONTIAC, Mich. – Oakland County Prosecutor KAREN D. McDONALD has charged Peter Hamilton Northup, a 79-year-old resident of Troy, with four counts of Aggravated Hate Crime.

On September 12, the defendant allegedly accosted four young men who were outside the Troy Library offering to discuss the Quran and Islam with the public. The defendant allegedly told the victims that he hates Muslims and threatened to kill them, saying he was carrying a firearm. The young men called police who located and arrested the defendant, who was carrying a loaded pistol.

“Islamophobia is never acceptable,” said Prosecutor McDonald. “The victims in this case were threatened simply for exercising their First Amendment rights. There is never an excuse for hurting people because of who they are or what they believe.”

The defendant reportedly has dementia and a history of previous welfare checks related to a decline in his mental health. He is a concealed pistol license holder and has 22 firearms registered in his name. Troy Police filed an Extreme Risk Protection Order petition to seize the defendant’s weapons. Police recovered 19 firearms.

“Troy Police did the right thing by securing the defendant’s guns,” said Prosecutor McDonald. “The right to own firearms comes with an obligation to use them safely and responsibly. This defendant’s mental health issues and alleged actions make clear that he should not have access to deadly weapons.”

Aggravated Hate Crime is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or a $15,000 fine.

Charges are accusations and individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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