Mathews man charged for using 911 to make racial threats

Randal J. Diggs of Port HaywoodPhoto byMCSO

A 34-year-old Mathews man is being held without bond after an arrest for making race-based threats.

Mathews County Sheriff’s Office reported that Randal James Diggs called 911 numerous times between July and August. “In these phone calls, Diggs targeted and made multiple threats towards a specific population in our community based solely on their race over a recorded phone line,” the Sheriff's Office stated.

When Diggs was arrested, MCSO said evidence was retrieved from his vehicle to substantiate some of the threats.

MCSO announced Diggs is charged with giving a false report to law enforcement officials on individuals solely because of their race, a felony. He also faces three misdemeanor counts of threatening an illegal or immoral act with the intent to coerce, intimidate, or harass a person over the telephone.

Diggs is being held in the Middle Peninsula Regional Security Center in Saluda. He has an arraignment scheduled for Sept. 4.

Court records show Diggs is also currently facing two Class 1 misdemeanor charges in neighboring Gloucester County for trespassing after being forbidden to do so.

Follow the Watchful Eye on Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram to keep up with what's happening in Virginia!