Windsor man charged after threatening to kill ICE agent, other federal authorities
A Windsor man who allegedly posted online comments threatening to kill ICE agents, “the King” and any “secret police” that try to enter his home was arrested Thursday by the FBI on a charge of transmitting threatening interstate communications.
Dwight Pettegrove, 63, was expected to make his initial appearance in federal court Friday in Bangor.
Court documents indicate Pettegrove is charged with one count of transmitting a threatening interstate communication on Jan. 16.
An affidavit filed by FBI Special Agent Bryanna Allaire alleges Pettegrove wrote, “Zi will kill you (Victim A) on site! You will die by my hand!” The information was obtained through a search warrant seeking information from Pettegrove’s accounts with YouTube and Google, its parent company.
The affidavit notes Pettegrove’s post used the victim’s last name, which was removed from the affidavit, and that “Victim A” is a known individual living in the United States.
The affidavit included numerous examples of comments allegedly posted by Pettegrove, mostly as comments on YouTube videos.
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On Sept. 28, 2025, Pettegrove allegedly wrote, “Come to my home secret police. Get wherever I am secret police. I will kill secret police anywhere anytime. I’M NOT A KEYBOARD WARRIOR IN THE LEAST. I CAN AND WILL BACK UP MY WORDS.”
On Jan. 14, he allegedly made this comment on a YouTube video: “I do imagine killing ICE pigs. I have no regard for their useless lives anymore than maga maggots, trump and his cabinet. You all must be exterminated.”
Two weeks after that comment, FBI Special Agent Bryanna Allaire, a U.S. Secret Service agent and a deputy from Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office interviewed Pettegrove at his Ridge Road home in Windsor. Pettegrove said he knew why they were there to speak with him, saying it was because of the stuff he puts on Facebook and YouTube, because he says “Kill ICE,” Allaire wrote in her affidavit.
The affidavit states Pettegrove told the authorities in that interview, “that he knows what he says. Pettegrove said that he has had it with them and this takeover and the President. Pettegrove said that he does not have any firearms and does not travel. Pettegrove said he is not out to kill anyone and that people described him as a ‘goofball.'”
Federal prosecutors have also filed a motion to detain Pettegrove without bail until his trial. Alisa Ross, an assistant U.S. attorney said in her motion that his case is eligible for a detention order because he committed a crime of violence, and for the “safety of any other person and the community.”
Court documents state Pettegrove was arrested, apparently by FBI agents. Neighbors to his 560 Ridge Road home reported in social media comments that FBI agents were at the property Thursday morning, including some in what appeared to be an armored vehicle. The road, also known as Route 32, was shut down while they were there, social media comments state.
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It appears Pettegrove’s online activities first came to the attention of the FBI in July 2025 when the FBI was sent information from Google that a YouTube user had threatened Google and its employees.
The company reported someone later determined to be Pettegrove posted statements including that he would “kill youtube ceo,” “Youtube will be murdered,” and “You tube must really be taught a lesson, a permanent lesson,” according to the FBI.
An FBI agent interviewed Pettegrove about those posts in July 2025 and Pettegrove acknowledged he made comments regarding Google and YouTube and said he had no plans to carry out an action. He said he had become frustrated over time with his comments being deleted. But he said he was disabled and couldn’t get anywhere and that he did not have the intent or capacity to carry out any threats.
After the agent warned Pettegrove he could get in trouble for threatening people, Pettegrove said he would moderate his comments, and the matter was closed , until the FBI was again notified by Google regarding Pettegrove’s alleged threats to kill people, including ICE agents, prompting the charge he now faces.
Transmitting a threatening interstate communication is punishable by up to five years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.
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Tagged: courts, FBI, kennebec journal, maine crime
Keith Edwards covers the city of Augusta and courts in Kennebec County, writing feature stories and covering breaking news, local people and events, and local politics. He has worked at the Kennebec Journal. More by Keith Edwards
