“Man accused of threatening to kill Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan online” – FOX 10 Phoenix

Jose Angel Valadez, 30, was arrested July 2, 2026, in Maricopa County, Arizona, after allegedly posting threats to kill Sheriff Jerry Sheridan on the social media platform X, officials said. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said Valadez made the threats online, prompting a same-day investigation and arrest by the department’s Threat Management Unit.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) described the posts as direct and credible threats made via an electronic device. In the same online messages, Valadez reportedly requested “full presidential immunity,” according to investigators, who cited this as a factor underscoring the seriousness of the threats.

Valadez allegedly posted explicit threats to “assassinate” Sheriff Jerry Sheridan on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, officials said.

The threats were posted on a Wednesday shortly before July 2, 2026, when MCSO’s Threat Management Unit launched a rapid investigation, officials said. The unit located and arrested Valadez the same day, reflecting a swift law enforcement response to the online threats. Valadez was booked into jail on misdemeanor charges of threatening and intimidating and use of an electronic device to threaten, according to public records and statements from MCSO. No injuries or physical confrontations were reported during the arrest.

Sheriff Jerry Sheridan has served as Maricopa County Sheriff since his election in 2024. Prior to his election, Sheridan held senior positions under former Sheriff Joe Arpaio and has been a prominent figure in local law enforcement. The threats against Sheridan come amid heightened attention to safety concerns for public officials in Maricopa County, officials said.

The MCSO emphasized that the case involves criminal threats made online rather than protected speech, noting the explicit nature of the death threats directed at a sitting elected official. The charges filed against Valadez reflect the use of electronic communication to convey the threats, highlighting law enforcement’s focus on addressing social media threats promptly.

This arrest fits within a broader pattern of threats against Maricopa County officials and employees in recent years. Authorities have documented multiple cases involving threats communicated electronically toward election workers, county employees, and law enforcement personnel. In a related case, federal authorities arrested Kegan Ogstad of Alabama on charges related to threatening Maricopa County election workers with references to the 2022 gubernatorial race. Ogstad faces five counts of communicating an interstate threat, according to federal court documents.

Other recent arrests in Maricopa County have involved violent threats against county animal shelter staff and threats against county human services facilities. For example, Daniel White, 49, was arrested and charged with making a terrorist threat against a Maricopa County Human Services facility, officials confirmed. These incidents, along with the threats against Sheriff Sheridan, illustrate law enforcement’s ongoing efforts to investigate and prosecute electronic threats against public officials and county personnel.

Sheridan’s office and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office have not released the full text of Valadez’s posts but have confirmed the core elements include an assassination threat targeting Sheridan and a demand for immunity from prosecution. As of early July 2026, there have been no reports of additional felony charges or federal involvement in the case. The investigation remains active, and officials continue to monitor threats made against public officials in the region.