The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Damian Smith-Birge, age 26, of Neosho, Missouri, was indicted on Tuesday by a federal grand jury for making threats against the Pennsylvania State Police.

According to United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that on Nov. 18, Smith-Birge telephoned the Pennsylvania State Police Stroudsburg barracks and made threats against law enforcement.

The affidavit also alleges that during the recorded calls, Smith-Birge referenced the December 2020 officer involved shooting incident that occurred in Hamilton Township.

Christian Hall, 19, a Chinese American teenager, was fatally shot by Pennsylvania State Police on Dec. 30. Smith-Birge was arrested in Missouri on a federal criminal complaint on Nov. 22.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts is prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 5 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.